How to Save Electricity at Home
People around the world have recently started receiving higher electricity bills than they used to. This is caused by the increased usage of electronic devices in all households: dishwashers, kettles, air conditioners, Christmas lights, refrigerators, and even electric cars. What is more, the price of the resource has also increased. According to BBC, wholesale energy prices have reached an all-time high. The factors influencing this rise include the restrictions on the import of Russian oil and gas, a cold winter in Europe last year that put pressure on supplies, and extremely hot weather in Asia that made people use more gas for air-conditioning.
Reducing the consumption of electricity can not only save you substantial amounts of money but also help reduce pollution, protect wildlife, and even enhance your quality of life. When you start conducting measures that save energy, your home becomes warmer and ventilated properly. This prevents mold growth and the buildup of pollutants that can negatively influence your health.
Strategy-1: Reduce Consumption
One of the most effective tactics to save energy in everyday life is reducing consumption. It does not require any financial investments. All you need to do is follow a couple of simple rules. The first important tip that a lot of people forget about is to switch off lights when you are not using them. For example, if your family is in the living room, you don’t need the lights in the kitchen or the dining room to be on. Moreover, always turn off the lights when leaving the house. Wiping the light bulbs and shades can also help! When there is dust all over the bulbs, it may seem that the lighting is dull and you need to turn on more lamps in the room.
Defrosting your refrigerator also helps save energy. The buildup in the freezer puts more pressure on the motor and, as a result, it uses more energy than it should. Turn off those household appliances that you do not use. For example, you don’t need your kettle, washing machine or blender to be plugged in all the time. Turn them on only when necessary. Finally, never put hot food in the fridge because it also requires the fridge to use more energy to cool it down.
Strategy-2: Conversion of the Premises
If you have already reduced the consumption of energy and want to advance your game, you can start using energy-saving equipment at home. First, replace all your light bulbs with LED ones. They are not expensive, and they will help you reduce your electricity bills. You can also insulate the house to keep it warmer. Most modern household appliance brands now have energy-efficient models, too. Yes, replacing all your appliances is not a cheap option, but it will be worth the investment. This measure is incredibly effective because you buy these appliances once, and you save money on power. In fact, they use up to 50% less energy than older models. If you are about to move to a new place or buy property, consider apartments that already have energy-efficient household appliances. For example, companies like Metropolitan Real Estate offer such apartments so that people do not have to worry about their energy bills.
Strategy-3: Revision of the Tariff
If you have noticed that you are paying more for electricity but you have already reduced its usage, it may be due to your tariff. Contact your supplier and check all the details. If you want to change a supplier, there are plenty of options, and you can choose something more affordable at any time. Some companies also offer a night mode: when the electricity consumption at night is recorded and priced differently. It is a great solution because you don’t use as much electricity at night, so why should you pay the same amount? With this mode, electricity consumed at night is cheaper, so you can use some of your modern household appliances then. For example, you can schedule your washing machine to start at night or the multicooker to start itself before you wake up to prepare breakfast. According to The Guardian, running an older dishwasher every night for 50 weeks can save you £31.50 a year compared to running it during the day on this tariff.
Conclusion
Saving energy is easier than it seems. Some of the steps in this article require little to no effort (and money). Others, like switching to energy-efficient appliances, would require your investments. Still, if you want to save money in the long run, improve your health, and help protect the environment, it is high time to start this energy-saving journey. By making such choices, you can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, so why not give it a shot?
