How to reduce my electricity bill?

How to save on electricity

A solar system with a rebate is a great way to save money on electricity. Still, there are many other ways to save on your electricity bill.

Check your lighting technology

Houses today have much better lighting than they did ten years ago.

LED bulbs last 10 to 20 times longer than their incandescent counterparts, and they do not trade any lighting quality for such a benefit.

In the past, old incandescent lights were hot and used about 100 watts of electricity. This happened 20 to 30 years ago. However, now, the same size bulb in the form of an LED light would only use possibly 10 to 12 Watts.

The next generation after incandescent lighting technology was CFL light bulbs. They utilise approximately 75% less electricity than incandescent but still use approximately 20% more energy than modern LED bulbs.

So I suggest you go through your house and check your lighting, especially your bulbs. And over time, make the switch to LED bulbs. This simple change will give your household substantial savings.

Use cold water to wash your clothes where possible

You can lower your electricity bill by changing your washing habits, even if you don’t use solar power.

Hot water can drain your energy bill, so only use warm water when necessary. Many clothes become perfectly clean in cold water and modern washing powders.

Use a clothesline instead of an electric dryer to save money on your electricity bill, unless it’s raining.

Now let’s look at your house in itself to see how without solar panels, there are still changes to your home that can save you money.

Insulation of your roof and walls makes a difference

One of the basics that every house should have is insulation in the roof. If you do not have insulation in the roof, heating money goes straight out the door whenever you heat your home.

Some of the biggest household bills are heating and cooling, both of which insulation can help you to manage.

Insulation keeps our homes at a comfortable temperature by trapping cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter.

You can also reduce the heat load onto your house in other ways.

Windows with expansive views facing north or west make the house hotter, so you’ll need a new air conditioner or ceiling fans. This translates to higher electricity use. To install insulation, consult our Guide to determine if your home requires it.

Awnings and solar film on windows can reduce heat loads on your house

You can beat this if you go and get an awning installed over these exposed windows. Pair an awning with a solar film on the glass and good insulation. Keep your home cool and save money on electricity without solar panels by making it summery and comfortable on the inside.

While I have solar panels, I’ve installed awnings on my property. Getting awnings installed on the north or west sides is also a good idea. Also, one can install solar films that can go onto the window.

And those solar films are a form of solar tinting. They’re not too expensive, and with about a loss of 30% of light, you will at the same time get up to 80 or 90% of the heat load that is not coming through the window radiating into your house. This is another way to reduce your air conditioning needs and lower your electricity bill. To see a good video on how to make a house cooler, check here.

Compare prices and plans of energy retailers to save on your electricity bills.

Energy companies usually give the best plan to new customers. So it’s worthwhile to shop around. Often loyalty accounts for little when looking for the best deal.

In some areas, electricity prices change throughout the day depending on the time you use it. Usually, the peak time between 2 pm and 8 pm has the highest charges. The medium-priced shoulder period occurs between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The lowest cost off-peak is from 10 pm to 7 am.

So using the washing machine or dishwasher is best in the off-peak or shoulder period. Suppose you want to save money. Heating water is best to program during the off-peak period.

Every year, you should review your electricity plan. Compare prices on different websites to ensure that you are getting the best deal on your energy retail plan.

Install energy monitors and determine where you use electricity

Getting the energy in your house monitored is a good idea. Energy monitors are small plugs that can be used to track your electricity usage. They help identify the energy consumption of different appliances in your home.

You can influence teenagers’ behaviour by yourself or with your partner. If you understand where their energy is being spent, you can figure out what to cut back on to save money.

Upgrade your appliances to more efficient units for energy savings

Buy the right appliances. Small fans or heaters use 3-4 times more power than reverse-cycle air conditioners for the same amount of heating.

The age and efficiency of appliances like air conditioners are important. An air conditioner that is 15 to 20 years old uses twice as much electricity as a new one. Instead of immediately purchasing solar panels, consider upgrading your home’s air conditioning system. This will result in a quieter and more energy-efficient unit.

Why not go around your house with eyes wide open and undertake an energy audit? Check – are there more efficient lights that you can install? Are there gaps under the doors that you can close so your power bill goes down?

Is your electric hot water system the most efficient? What about your air conditioning? Is that one that is maybe 15-20 years old? Get in the habit of turning off standby power.

Go and find your highest electricity costing applications, eliminate the culprits and find a way to make your home more energy efficient.