10 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Home's Electricity Consumption
That pesky electricity bill can be one of the largest utility bills in your budget. It tends to fluctuate from month-to-month depending on seasons, rates changes and your usage. Reducing your power consumption is one of the best ways to lower your carbon footprint and save money on your electricity bill. In this cost of living crisis, making savings where we can is vital to taking control back over your budget so you can save money for more important things.
We have rounded up 10 best and simplest ways to reduce your power consumption and save money!
1. Choose Energy Efficient Appliances
Your old fridge, chest freezer, or heater could be responsible for gobbling up lots of power! Consider investing in energy efficient appliances. When you upgrade your fridge, washing machine, or heat pump, be sure to choose ones with a high energy star rating. This means that it will use the least amount of energy possible to do its job, helping to save you money on electricity bills in the long run!
2. Try Cold Water
Okay, we aren’t necessarily suggesting that you take up cold showers. But you can save money on electricity by washing your clothes with cold water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water, and washing detergents can effectively clean your laundry. Next time you run a load of laundry, run the wash on the cold water setting. Save your hot washes for your sheets, or after you have had the cold and flu run through your home.
3. Watch Out for Vampire Power
Vampire power is the term used to describe the small amount of power consumed by devices that are in standby mode. For example, when you turn the TV off, it consumes a tiny bit of electricity to power the remote control sensor. Or your phone charger when you pull it out of your phone in the morning. Be sure to turn devices and appliances off such as your coffee machine when you aren’t using it. And especially when you go away for a long weekend!
4. Close and Open Curtains
Your curtains are designed to trap heat that has come into your home during the day. You can avoid having to crank the heat pump at night by closing them as the sunsets to trap in that warmth. On the other hand, be sure to open the curtains in the morning to let in warmth in the morning.
5. Check Windows and Doors
Whether you have the AC cooling you down, or the heat pump keeping you cosy, you will want to trap that warm or cold air that you have generated. If it leaks out through an unsealed window or door, your unit will have to work harder to do its job, costing you more money on power. Check that your windows and doors shut properly to keep that air trapped!
6. Clean Filters
That AC or heatpump unit hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, right? We see you! Your AC unit collects dust in the filter over time. As it builds up, the unit has to work harder to do its job. You can help it work more efficiently by giving the filter a routine cleaning. Simply use a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove the large clumps of dust and a cloth to pick up the residual. Your unit will work more efficiently, saving you money on your power bill.
7. Choose LED Lights
There are several different types of lightbulbs on the market. LED lights use the least amount of energy to shine. If you have traditional light bulbs such as CFL bulbs or halogen bulbs, consider swapping them for LEDs. Enjoy the longer lifespan and the lower electricity bills long term!
8. Clean the Fridge
How often do you clean out your fridge and freezer? It’s a good idea to routinely declutter things in your fridge that have gone off or that you know you won’t eat or use to create more room in the unit for the cold air to circulate. This will help the fridge freezer work more efficiently to keep your food cold or frozen, and help mitigate your power consumption, saving you money.
9. Think About How You Use Appliances
The way you use your appliances, big or small, can make an impact on your power bill. Only boil the amount of water you need when boiling the kettle. Run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. Be conscious about how long you are preheating your oven for. Keep your hot showers short.
10. Consider Solar
Solar power can be a long term solution to lowering your power bill. Solar panels, while they cost a premium to install on your roof, they can save you lots of money every month on your power bill. Often, they can generate enough electricity to cover your entire bill for the month. They are environmentally friendly, only using the energy of the sun to generate electricity, and they have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, sometimes even up to 40 years. You can even benefit from buy-back rates, in which energy retailers will pay you to buy back excess electricity that your solar panels generate. They will pay based on a set price per KWh.
Compare Power
One of the best ways to save money on your power bill is to compare power. Here at Power Compare, we are all about helping Kiwis make better choices with their money by fostering knowledge and information. Our user-friendly comparison tool empowers you to compare different power plans and providers side-by-side so that you can easily find a better deal for your household and save money. Power Compare is bias-free, hassle-free, free to use, and you can switch to a cheaper plan in just minutes. Why pay more when you can pay less, and smile a little more? Take control of your budget today and save money!