How Do We Reduce the Cost of Electricity Consumption?

Energy bills can cost a lot of money over time. Therefore, minimizing every possible avenue of electricity consumption can save you hundreds of dollars every year.

Here are a few tips to help you reduce the cost of electricity consumption in your home.

Use Less Energy in the Home

Hot water usage

There are many ways to ensure that your overall energy consumption reduces over time. 

You may want to ensure that your water heating cylinder is properly insulated. Experts indicate that water heating costs can be saved by up to 30% by ensuring that the storage tank is well insulated.

Do not leave your water heater on throughout the day, as this will use up quite a bit of electricity. Only turn it on when you need hot water, and you will make significant cost savings.

Heating water takes up a lot of energy, so you may want to conserve as much hot water as possible. Do not leave the hot tap running when washing your hands, brushing your teeth, rinsing the dishes, and even showering. This is effectively pouring money down the drain.

Remember that a shower uses far less hot water than a bath, so you can occasionally forego a long relaxing soak in favor of a shower instead.

Nearly 80% of the energy used in washing machines and dishwashers is dedicated to heating the water to the desired temperature, rather than running the machine.

Experts advise going for cooler wash cycles and only using these machines with full loads to get the best possible use out of them.

Check your air-conditioning system air filters

The air-conditioning system is one of the biggest electricity draws in a home. The harder the system runs, the more energy it requires to keep the environment at optimum temperature. 

Therefore, check that your air filters within A/C units are clean. The cleaner the filter, the better the air intake and the less energy is used to operate the appliance.

Another way of ensuring your AC runs great is by covering it from direct sunlight. If your AC unit is roasting in the sun, it will not run nearly as well as if it was in a shaded area at around 21 degrees Celsius. Experts recommend using an awning or other forms of cover to keep your AC from overheating in direct sunlight.

Also, you may want to consider rearranging your furniture to get the best use of your AC. Airflow is something you should think about, and you should therefore check to see whether any furniture is on top of your central air vents. These obstruct the paths that cool air uses to get into your rooms. Rearranging your furniture in such an instance is a quick fix that instantly makes a noticeable difference.

Temperature Control

Most people tend to set their heating way too high. These high temperatures use up a lot of energy to be consistently on. Consider lowering your thermostat setting and wearing extra clothing rather than turning up the heat every time.

Leaks

You may find that your roof causes a lot of warm air to leak out and cold air to seep in particularly in the winter, prompting the need to set your thermostat at a warmer temperature than necessary.

Proper roof insulation can save nearly 16% of the energy needed to heat and cool a home. So you may want to inspect your roof for any leaks and have them fixed to save you a small fortune.

Use energy-efficient appliances

If you have had your television, refrigerator, tumble dryer, washing machine, or vacuum hoover for more than a decade, it could be time to replace them with newer and more efficient appliances.

Modern versions of these appliances are a lot more efficient than their older counterparts, and looking into individual ratings will help you choose the most efficient and affordable models available. This change could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs every year.

Use motion-sensitive lights and timer plugs

You can set your lights to come on in spaces where there are people and activity, and for them to go off a few seconds after the room is empty or not in use.

 A similarly cost-effective means of controlling your lights is by using a timer plug.This has the advantage of ensuring your home is well-lit when no one is home for security reasons for a period of your choosing. 

You may also want to consider a smart utility control device for your home that will allow you to have control over your lighting and heating in your hands regardless of your physical location.

Turn off electronics when not in use

Televisions, game consoles, and personal computers use up a small amount of energy. However, they use up a lot of energy over time. Therefore, leaving electronics powered on when they are not being used is neither cost-effective nor energy-efficient.

For newer electronics, ensure you set them to a power-saving mode. This setting ensures that the device in question powers off when not used for a particular period. 

Find ways to pay less for energy

Time-based electricity rates

Many utility providers have subscription programs that incentivize customers to use electricity during off-peak hours of the day. You can seek out options that pass on some savings to you through reduced electricity rates and rebates.

Modern home energy systems can allow you to dictate when and how your home uses energy. If you can leverage these systems to shift your electricity use to off-peak hours, you may be able to save some money with these smart meters and home energy management programs.

These time-based rates are especially advantageous to owners of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. These vehicles are typically recharged at night when their owners are asleep or not actively using the vehicles, thus capitalizing on off-peak hours.

Conclusion

Energy consumption accumulates over time and can end up costing you a pretty penny in the long term. 

Be mindful of how you use energy, and ensure your home is well insulated. This, in addition to using energy-efficient devices and time-based electricity rates, will help you keep down the cost of electricity consumption in your home.