Applying Effective Energy Saving Tips

As the weather warms up, and the old aircon starts earning its keep, most Aussie homes see some big jumps in their power bills – way past their winter averages.

While the jump is fairly normal, it doesn’t mean you have to take it.

With a few smart energy-saving tips, calculated investments, and minor inconveniences, you can lower that electricity bill down by a considerable margin and save big on energy this Summer.

Let’s take a look:

Dealing with Your AC

We know, we know. The last thing you want to do is turn off the air-conditioning while the sun’s frying your house dry. But we’re not saying to turn it off completely – just turn it on during specific times of the day to help you beat the heat.

Using electricity during the daytime is more expensive than using it during the night, so, it would be preferable to set your air-conditioning to run a few hours before you sleep until you’re out cold.

If the heat’s unbearable and turning the AC off is not an option, then consider adjusting the temperature on your thermostat. If you’re using an old thermostat, we suggest that you replace it with a smart one to make sure your air-conditioning unit isn’t turning on and off needlessly.

You may also want to invest in other smart home devices to make things run more efficiently in your casa. Turning a residence into a smart home is becoming more and more common. And keep in mind that the convenience that home automation brings is awesome, but the rebate benefits offered by the energy saving scheme are even awesome-er.

Alternatively, to ensure your AC isn’t working too hard, clean the vents and the unit itself. As dust and debris block the vents, the longer it will take for the AC to cool a room. Of course, the longer its compressor runs, the more electricity the unit will consume.

And if you want to save a lot, you can rely on ceiling fans. Thankfully, on many days they should be enough to keep us comfortable (unless you live in Darwin – sorry). A medium-sized ceiling fan should be able regulate the air inside your home and keep you reasonably cool.

Dealing with Your Washing Machine And Your Home

Let’s stop focusing on your AC, and let’s deal with your washing machine. Since it’s summer, water should be warmer than usual. Aside from reducing the electricity the water heater can consume, it will also prevent it from raising your indoor temperature.

If you’re worried that the tap won’t wash your clothes well enough because it’s not hot, consider installing a water filter. The water filter will help soften the water, making your detergent more effective at washing and preventing mineral deposits from staining your clothes.

Also, you don’t need to use your dryer. The weather’s warmer and not that humid. You can take advantage of the heat, hang your laundry outside and let nature do its work.

Of course, you can’t easily do that if you don’t have a balcony or backyard to place a clothesline. If that’s the problem, you can hang your clothes near a window and let airflow inside your home. Aside from preventing your home from getting humid and warm, allowing air stream inside replaces polluted and warmed air with a fresher and cooler breeze.

When we said that you should let air flow, we mostly meant that you should open windows that are not facing the sun. At the same time, you should cover sun-facing windows with blinds or drapes. And to further lessen the heat that sunlight transfers on your glass windows, consider using solar films on them or let someone do insulated window installation.

Now, onto cooling and dehumidifying plants in your home. There are a variety of them, and they’ll help regulate temperature and humidity. For dehumidifying plants,. consider spider plants and Boston ferns. For cooling plants, consider aloe vera, bamboo palms, and peace lilies.

Replacing Inefficient Appliances and Requesting an Energy Efficiency Audit

Have you already replaced your old bulbs with energy efficient LED lightbulbs? You should also check if all the appliances you have are EnergyStar certified or have a low EPA rating. Older units are much less energy efficient, so AC units and other large appliances that are over 10 years old may actually be beyond their usable life (and save you more money to replace than to run in the long run).

And finally, if all of these efforts fail to help you reduce your electricity bill, then it’s a good idea to get an energy audit from a licensed electrician ASAP.

Managing your energy bill is much easier when you understand how certain factors impact your electricity usage. By implementing the tips above, you can start saving on your electricity bill each month.

Faraday Group offers a range of electrical services to ensure your home always has a stable and reliable source of power. We can help modernise your home by installing the latest smart home technology to help you accurately track your electricity usage. Get in touch to find out how we can save you money on your energy bill and ensure your home is safe and efficient this Summer season.