Do you dread the thought of that power bill coming? If so, consider ways in which you can cut back on your use of electricity. You don’t have to be cold all winter in order to save. There are many easy ways in which you can lessen the use of power without being inconvenienced. Here are 20 electricians tips.
- Choose heaters and other appliances by their star ratings. Avoid fan heaters which are very hard on power.
- Dry clothes on the clothesline, a veranda line or a clothes airer inside, rather than using a tumble dryer, as these gobble power up.
- Use cold water for doing the laundry.
- Have solar assisted hot water, with the electric boost set to cut in during off-peak times.
- A lot of heat is lost through windows. Dark or rubber back fabric is good for curtains to keep heat in the house.
- Sliding windows and doors have a gap in the middle where air can escape. You can get sealing tape to minimise loss in this way.
- Use a sausage at the base of the doors, especially external ones.
- Look for gaps around the edges of doors. Wait until dark and have someone shine a torch from outside to inside. If there’s a gap, you’ll see the light from the inside. Use gap-filler tape available from hardware stores to seal it.
- Close doors into the living room at night or on cold days to keep heat in just one room.
- Close doors into bedrooms and other rooms that are not in use, or used very much.
- Insulation in the ceiling cavity and walls will help the house stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, saving a lot of power.
- Wear warm clothing before you turn on the heater. Thick socks and a jumper mean you won’t feel that cold air so much.
- Turn off everything with a red light, at the wall. Red lights still use power, even though the device is technically off. This includes the microwave oven.
- Use bed-socks, fleece sheets and an extra doona rather than an electric blanket.
- Make sure you have a full load before switching on the washing machine; don’t just wash one item.
- Check that the fridge seals are working properly.
- Don’t leave lighting and heating on in a room when it is not going to be used for some hours.
- Set the timer for air-conditioning or heating to come on half an hour before you get home from work, instead of a couple of hours. The house will soon warm up and you’ll appreciate it even more, especially when that electricity bill arrives.
- In the summer, wear clothes made from cotton because they are much cooler than man-made fabrics and you won’t feel the need for air conditioning so much.
- Open windows to catch the breeze or switch on the fan before using the air conditioner.
