Electricity prices are rising fast and people seem to be struggling to keep up. If you live in a more developed area or a large household, you’re probably paying a large sum on electricity and it is not viable for you to cut down on your energy usage, as this would lead to lowering your standard of living. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to lower your bills without sacrificing comfort.
In the following article, we will go over some of the most effective ways in which you might take your power consumption under control without having to spend too much money or time on it.
Install Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is a great way to lower your electricity bills significantly. Solar power is becoming cheaper, making it an affordable alternative for all households regardless of their income levels. Depending on the amount of energy you need and how much sun exposure you receive in your area, prices could vary. While the initial installation costs might seem like a large sum at first glance, it pays off quickly when considering that the alternative solution would be buying electricity from companies. Also keep in mind that this money would act as an investment, meaning that you won’t have to spend anything after installation costs are paid off. As seen at shoalhavensolar.com.au, solar panels are becoming so efficient that they allow customers to cover their full energy needs or even produce surplus power. If you produce more solar power than you are consuming, you can even sell it to some power companies for additional revenue.
Getting a Smart Electricity Meter
The introduction of smart meters has been very successful in reducing power bills. This product is available to households that have electronic devices that consume high amounts of energy, such as freezers and large screen plasma TVs. The device notifies you about your current energy levels and how much it costs you to use them for a specific period. This usually reduces energy use by around 5%. The greatest thing about this method is that you can monitor your power consumption and adjust it according to your needs, saving money without losing comfort levels. Getting this device usually costs around $20 per year, but the long-term benefits are tremendous, so it is worth getting one.
Using Energy Star Products
Using energy star products has been very successful in reducing electricity costs as well as helping the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These favorable conditions are often sold to customers through bulk discounts that help them save more money on their appliances. Operating costs of energy star compliant products are usually much lower than those of non-energy star compliant ones, making this a profitable investment for your household and the environment. The reason why these products become highly efficient despite not having any special technology installed is that they use materials with higher energy conversion rates and therefore consume less power overall to perform the same tasks as regular appliances do.
Unplugging Appliances
Unplugging appliances that are not in use is one of the simplest ways to reduce electricity bills. If you leave your cell phone charger plugged into the wall, it will still consume electricity even if there is no phone plugged into it. This usually costs up to 5% of your monthly energy bill, so unplugging appliances you don’t need any longer is the easiest way to lower your electricity expenses. Of course, this depends on how much energy each device consumes and for what period it’s left plugged in, but you can calculate that quite easily next time if you’re interested. The greatest thing about this method is that you don’t need to change your lifestyle significantly, only plugging and unplugging appliances when required.
Smart Lighting
Correct lighting at home is another effective way to reduce your power consumption without sacrificing too much. If you turn off lights when you leave a room, then only turn them on when entering that specific room, you will reduce your electricity bills by around 10%. Incorporating smart lighting solutions into your home is also an effective way to save more energy and lower power consumption without breaking the bank. This method is an excellent alternative to more expensive solar solutions, although you can combine it with other techniques. Smart lighting can be controlled via smartphone apps, so you can turn them on or off without even entering your home. This small change will save you money over time and increase the value of your property as well.
Replacing Old Appliances
Replacing old appliances with newer, more efficient models is another great way to save money on your electricity bills. Depending on the age and efficiency of your household appliances, you could be spending a significant amount of money on wasted energy. Buying new appliances is an upfront cost but it eventually pays off when considering lower monthly costs for powering them. Keep in mind that if you decide to replace all major household appliances simultaneously, you will be able to take advantage of bulk discounts and therefore buy them at a much cheaper price than usual.
Lowering your electricity bills is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The six methods described above are practical and simple steps for reducing energy costs without changing the way you live. They have been proven to work by countless individuals around the world and can easily be applied in daily life. So if you’re looking for a new, more efficient, and sustainable method of powering your home, consider the above six. You won’t regret it.
