I think we all agree we want to save Household’s Energy Use
An average Australian house will use 6,570 kWh’s of energy every year. That’s a lot of energy and a significant cost to you.
Image: Home SA.GOV.AU
There are two reasons for reducing your energy usage:
- Saving the environment – the less energy you use the lower the number of fossil fuels being pulled from the planet. Of course, many energy providers are moving towards more green energy sources.
- Money – saving money benefits you directly and is a great motivator for anything!
- There are ways to lower your energy costs and that is by learning more about thermostats: Saving Energy & Money at Home
There are several ways in which you can reduce your energy use and save money:
- Check Your Electrics
Get your local electrician to take a look at your electrics. This is the best way to ensure you don’t have any dangerous wiring that could cause a fire or any unnecessary drain; that you might not even be aware of.
Electricians are trained to spot and fix any issue.
- Lower Your Thermostat
Lowering your thermostat on your heating by just one degree can result in huge energy savings over the course of the year. In fact, it is estimated that every degree increase over 20°C can increase your bill by 10%!
To help compensate from the reduction in your thermostat you can keep the heat in your rooms by keeping doors, windows and curtains closed.
You can also put on an extra layer to stay warm.
- Close Off Rooms
If you have a room that is never or rarely used there is little point in heating it all day and night. Instead, shut the heater off. Once a week allow the room to warm up properly, this will ensure you don’t get any problems associated with damp or cold.
Additionally, before you go to bed you should shut the heating off in all the rooms that you won’t be using first thing in the morning. Again, there is no point in heating unused space.
- Insulation
This is the greatest way to save energy because you simply won’t need to have your heating on as much. You can get grants to have insulation added into your ceilings and pumped into your walls.
The insulation will help to keep the heat inside your home and keep you warm in the winter, as well as cool in the summer.
Of course, this is an investment; the cost will need to be offset against the reduction in outgoings thanks to your energy saving techniques. A good level of insulation should pay for itself in 2 – 5 years.
- Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
An energy efficient light bulb will take longer to brighten than a standard one. But it will also use a third of the power. This makes them great at energy saving and reliving the strain on your wallet.
You can replace all the bulbs in your house with these. However, it is worth noting that you still need to turn off the lights if you are not using them; this is the best way of saving energy; simply don’t use it!
Related:
Heating Choice an Ethanol or Electric Fireplace
Spring Maintenance For Heating and Cooling
Seasonal Maintenance of Your Heating and Air Conditioning Units