Most countries around the world have a policy to reduce the amount of energy used. Both businesses and households can take simple steps to avoid using unnecessary electrical energy.
Not only will this save money on bills, you’ll also help the environment too.
Here are some simple tips to help reduce your household electrical energy use.
1: Lights
This one is a no-brainer. Turn all lights off after you’ve left a room. Train yourself to get into the habit of doing this and soon it will be second nature.
If you’re reading a book, for example, use one lamp. Don’t have all lamps on along with the overhead light.
Use LED lights.
LED (or led) lights are far more efficient than traditional incandescent or fluorescent lights. They need less energy to produce light and, therefore, are a great choice to save energy.
These light bulbs are available in a range of products all over the world. These powerful bulbs can be used behind led signs to illuminate from within. They are also easy to purchase for smaller household lights.
Make sure to clean light bulbs (when cool), lampshades and fittings. Dust can dull the light emitted, leading you to turn on extra lights unnecessarily.
2: Baths and Hot Water
Showers use far less energy to heat water than baths. So have a quick, hot shower and save energy.
If you have the resources, install solar panels, or a miniature wind generator. For an initial outlay, you will reap vast savings over time. You may even make money. Unneeded, generated power can often be sold back to the electricity supply company.
3: Use Timers
If you are forgetful for lights, hot water immersion boilers or anything else. Install a cheap timer on wall sockets. These come in the form of a plug with a circular timer that has a number of slots. Simply push these slots in and out to set the time that the electrical item will come on and off.
4: Beware the Standby Light
Start to take note of what equipment in your house has standby lights. Examples of this include your television or computer. Once there is a light on, it indicates that there is some power going to the device. If you aren’t using the television or computer, it makes sense to unplug it fully.
ug these devices, particularly at night provides savings. You can save up to 25% off your energy bill by ensuring no devices are left on standby for hours at a time.
5: White Goods
Oven-baked meals use up a lot of electricity. The oven needs a lot of power to generate and maintain the required heat. Every time you open the oven door, you lose heat. The oven then uses more energy to reheat.
To save money, don’t open the oven door and use the oven sparingly. When you do bake, try to make full use of the oven, rather than only cooking one small item.
On the opposite end of the heat spectrum is your fridge. Ensure this doesn’t eat energy by ensuring the seals are tight. Regularly defrost the freezer. When there is a build up of ice, it uses more electricity. Likewise, don’t put warm food in the fridge, as it uses extra energy to cool it down.
Small Changes Provide Small-Change
The above tips mightn’t seem like they’d have much impact. However, when it comes to electrical power, small changes do lead to big savings. The key is to create new habits. You’ll not only spend less money, you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment.