Energy Information

Saving electricity is one of the most important activities for
households to not only save the environment, but also save on their
electricity bills. Although many people are already familiar with the
ways one can save on energy consumption, often they are still hit with a
bill shock when winter comes.

This article introduces some simple electricity saving methods that do
not require extensive effort, but still contribute to savings in
electricity bills.

Change light globes to more electricity efficient globes

Although fluorescent lighting is cheaper to buy, they will be more expensive in the long run, as they consume more energy.

It is recommended to change to LED lighting, which is the most
energy-efficient lighting option in stores at the moment. LED lighting
is more expensive to buy, but will save more energy, thus reducing a
household’s energy bill.

Change to more energy efficient appliances when it is time to replace old appliances

Old household appliances have a tendency to use more electricity and, therefore, to increase the energy bill.

When an appliance’s life cycle has reached its end, the best option
would be to change to a modern, energy-saving appliance. Again,
energy-saving appliances may be priced higher than appliances that save
less energy, but the savings in energy consumption will make up for the
higher price.

Use timers

Timers are a
great help when trying to save electricity; they make saving much easier
for households, thanks to their ease of use.

After the initial
set up, the timers will handle the heaters, Christmas lights and so on,
which means that they will not accidentally be left on to inflate the
energy bill.

Wash your clothes in lower temperatures

Washing clothes in lower temperatures is as friendly for the environment, as it is for the electricity bill.

When washing clothes in cold temperatures, there will be less energy
consumed when heating the water, which subsequently results in lower
energy bills.

Have shorter showers

Unless a person particularly enjoys cold showers, usually taking a
shower consumes energy when the water is heated to a pleasant
temperature.

As many do not take pleasure in ice cold showers, it is beneficial to keep showers as short as possible to save on energy.

Double-glaze your windows

Many households lose a lot of heat through their windows, which means
that these households need to keep their heaters running for longer and
at higher temperatures than households with better insulation.

Although getting your windows double-glazed may feel like a large
investment, it is a one-time expense and will save a lot of money on
electricity bills in the long run.

Turn off the lights when you are not in the room

Although energy saving light globes have contributed to some
significant savings in energy usage, it is still recommended to turn off
lights in rooms that are not being used, for extra savings.

When washing dishes or clothes, wash a full load

People often wash half loads in their washing machines, which is not recommended when wanting to save electricity.

If at all possible, it is recommended to wait until you have enough
clothes or dishes to fill up the whole machine. This way there is less
water and electricity usage.

Do not leave your computer or TV in standby mode

Computers, stereos and TVs use up electricity even though they have
been turned off. Often appliances like the ones above default to standby
modes when turned off, which means they are still using up electricity.

The best way to get around this is to turn off the power in the
power board, so the electricity will be cut off completely when the
appliance is not in use.