subject: Home Electricity Saving Tips [print this page] Do you want to reduce your very expensive power bill?
These days the average person finds it hard to run their household appliances due to the increase in electricity costs.
Saving Power around the home is easier than you think, in any home there are a number of ways that you can reduce both your costs and footprint on the environment. I work in the Building Industry and can share some simple tips to save money.
Here are my Home Energy Saving Tips
Doors, Windows and Draughts - Do your doors and windows close and seal properly, are there any other areas in your home that let in draughts (hot or cold) check around your stove and exhaust fans in kitchen and bathrooms.
Timber Floors - Another area that can be very bad for air escape, maybe think about covering your floor with carpet and a good quality underlay as this is a great insulation. If you have an older house and there's plenty of room underneath, you insulate under the floor, this allows you to keep your beautiful timber floor.
Downlights - Some of the early downlights are not sealed into the roof cavity, letting in a large amount of airflow, upwards during winter and downwards during summer. Consider, replacing your old downlights with new energy saving downlights.
Lighting - This is always overlooked. I have three children, so a night lights are just a part of my life. Night lights are small and very cheap to run, LED lights that plug into the power are readily available and are also a lot safer than leaving a lamp on overnight. General lighting can be switched to Fluro or LED, the latter being more expensive to purchase but are easily cheaper to run and last a lot longer.
Kettles and Appliances - A friend of mine only ever boils the kettle with enough water for the amount of cups that they need. When I asked them about this, the answer was very simple. If they boil the kettle three times a day with only one litre more than you need each time, then over the course of a year you will boil 1,000 litres more than you will use. Most kettles use between 2,000 and 2,400 watts an hour to run and if you compare that to a fluro light that uses only 10 to 18 watts you can see how much difference it could make.
When you are at home or especially when you are away from home, turn off your appliances at the power point, as you still use power when appliances are on standby.
Ceiling Insulation - Do you have Insulation? If not get some installed. If you have insulation, check the age of it, as it usually only last up to 15 years. Insulating your home is one of the best ways to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Fossil Fuel Generators - Generators that are powered by Gasoline (petrol) or Diesel are expensive to purchase, noisy and cost a fortune to run. They inefficient in the production of power.
Solar Energy Panels - Panels are the most environmentally friendly type of power source, compared to fossil fuels which release greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide, solar cells don't release anything into the air?
Solar energy is renewable. We never have to worry about running out of sunlight or using it all up. The sun is a consistent power source meaning it's always going to be there every day.
Solar energy cells make no noise while collecting energy. There are no other renewable energy sources that are completely silent.
There is a huge variety of solar panel systems available. Some can cost thousands and others just a few hundred. This means anyone can purchase solar, there's an entry point for just about everybody.
You're not required to connect to the power grid. You can be completely self-sufficient and live off-the-grid. Imagine never paying another monthly bill or hook-up charge.
Wind Turbines - Turbines are great for areas that have a lot of wind all year round, however they can be noisy and are not designed for the average back yard due to the size. Check with your local council as some restrictions can apply.
Hydro Electric Generators - Generators will operate well if you have an all year round river running near your home, but otherwise not practical.
Hot Water Cylinders - These are used by the majority and can use a lot of power. If you are building or renovating or just want to replace an older Hot Water Cylinder, there are a number of options available that can reduce your power consumption such as: Solar, Electric, Gas and Heatpump.
Hot Water Cylinder Wraps are another great way to save energy if your hot water cylinder is outside. They are available in Wool or Fibreglas and they work just like Insulation for the floors, ceilings and walls, it keeps the heat inside the cylinder where it is needed so less energy is wasted.
Lastly, check your local government or council for grants that may be available to you for changing over to Solar Energy Power and Hot Water.
So just by doing a few small things to your home you could save a tremendous amount of money and also help the Environment at the same time.
