It seems that the cost of heating and cooling our home increases every year, and it’s hard to keep up with the extra expense. Using these 5 tips to lower your electricity bill, compiled by Brisbane Air’s electrical experts, you’ll find your bills falling by hundreds of dollars.
1. Start small and turn appliances off
Leaving televisions, DVD players, Wi-fis, and computers on stand-by when they’re not in use adds as much as 10% to an electric bill: turning such devices off at the wall when not used, is an immediate money-saver.
Fridges and freezers use more power when they are nearly empty, as do dishwashers.
Keep heaters away from windows, and don’t heat or cool unoccupied rooms.
Use only as much water in the kettle as you require, and hang your laundry out on a dry day rather than using a tumble dryer.
2. Pay attention to lighting
Just like turning off appliances and only heating occupied rooms, never leave lights burning without reason. Using LED lights will also save on energy costs, so switch straight away if you haven’t already.
3. Use air conditioning wisely
Just as with heating and lighting, if you’re not using a room then having the air conditioning blasting will eat up your cash. Air conditioning units also work far more efficiently when they are clean, so make sure you have them serviced regularly with filter cleaning as part of a regular household maintenance program.
4. Compare energy costs and consider solar
It’s easy to compare the energy costs of different electricity supply companies, though when you do, you should ensure you compare against actual usage: measuring a cheap-rate tariff against a day-rate tariff will only mislead. Even though installing a solar energy system is a major up-front expense, the ongoing savings could be worth thousands.
5. Maintain and service your electrics regularly
Well maintained electrics work more efficiently, like a clean engine drives further on a gallon of fuel. A once-a-year service of your home electrics and appliances by a licensed electrician will spot problems early and make sure you’re not paying over the odds for your electrical costs.
Reducing your electric bill is not difficult, but requires new habits and an energy conscious mind set. Discussing how you could cut hundreds of dollars from your bill with a licensed electrician is the first step to doing so.