Tips on how to save on your electricity bills

With the global increase in energy prices, Perth homeowners or renters are spending an increasing proportion of their household expenses on electricity bills. In this article, our team offers you a few tips to reduce your energy bills and expenses and save money.

While total energy consumption in the residential sector only increased by 1.7% between 2002 and 2013, household electricity consumption soared over the same period. An increase of around 23. 7% has been recorded, despite appliances consuming less energy overall!

This is due to the increase in the number of household electrical appliances. Mainly to the increase in their size and duration of use, but also their not always very economical use.

What are some solutions for reducing your electricity bill without changing your lifestyle?

Reducing expenses on your heating and hot water usage

Heating and hot water together account for almost 75% of the energy expenditure of an Australian household. Reducing the electricity consumption linked to their operation is crucial in lowering your bill.

There are many effective ways of reducing your heating bill: improving the thermal insulation of your home, setting the temperature at an appropriate level, correctly maintaining your equipment, etc.

For example, simple actions can significantly reduce the cost of your water heating bill. Choose showers over baths, and set the temperature of your hot water tank between 55 and 60°C. You can also install small equipment to reduce water consumption, such as shower heads reducing the water flow, which will substantially reduce your bill.

Adopting the right behaviour in the kitchen to reduce your electricity bill

Cooking accounts for an average of 7% of household energy costs. However, several tips can help you effortlessly reduce your energy consumption in the kitchen.

Remember to cover your pots and pans and to use appropriate cooking plates according to the size of the utensils. This will allow you to make significant savings.

It is also essential to adapt your cookware to your cooking habits:

• To boil water, use a gas kettle, which does not consume much energy.
• To heat your dishes, a microwave oven will consume less energy than a conventional oven.
• A pressure cooker is up to 60% more economical for cooking your vegetables than a saucepan.

Similarly, if you often use your hobs for short periods, opt for induction cooking instead. Induction cooktops heat up much faster. They save about 30% on electricity compared to ceramic hobs and 50% on conventional hobs!

You should choose a quality fan oven if you are more of an oven person, which allows you to cook several dishes simultaneously. A combination oven (oven + microwave) will also reduce your electricity consumption by 66 to 75%.

Finally, a hob or oven continues to heat up after it has been switched off. You can use this heat when cooking for a long time by turning it off a few minutes before the end of the cooking time.

Doing the right things every day.

For between 17 and 20% of the average household’s energy expenditure, specific electricity, i.e., electricity used for services that only run on this energy, is the second largest household consumption item after heating.

The price of electricity, and its constantly rising share, make reducing this expenditure a critical financial issue with saving big. To do this, there are several solutions available to you.

Reduce your electricity bill by monitoring the consumption of washing appliances

Washing appliances consume much energy and account for 33% of the electricity consumed by households. These same households have a tumble dryer, a washing machine, and a dishwasher.

The tumble dryer alone consumes 17% of the specific electricity spent. To reduce electricity bills, we recommend that you air dry your clothes. If this is not possible, choose an appliance with a humidity sensor that will stop or put it on standby at the end of the drying process. You can also spin your clothes properly before putting them in.

Even if your washing machine consumes relatively little electricity, you can still limit the proportion of your bill by not systematically using pre-wash. It would be best if you did not hesitate to use low-temperature programs.

Similarly, using a dishwasher is more economical than washing manually up with the water running. However, could you fill it out systematically before use? Also, remember to use the “eco” program, which can reduce consumption by up to 45% and therefore your electricity bill.

Finally, don’t forget to regularly clean the filters and seals of your washing machines to ensure they work optimally.

Choose less energy-consuming multimedia devices to reduce your electricity bill.

Multimedia devices are the second most important source of electricity consumption and are becoming increasingly common in the home. Selecting the most energy-efficient devices to limit their electricity consumption is essential.

LCD televisions, for example, consume less energy than those with plasma screens. It is advisable to use laptops, and they require between 50 and 80% less power than desktop computers. Inkjet printers, which do not need to be preheated, require between 5 and 10 W, compared with 200 to 300 W for laser printers.

In general, multifunctional equipment will consume less than the number of devices it replaces. A printer that combines a scanner, fax, and photocopier will require 50% less energy than the sum of these devices taken individually.

Finally, phone or laptop chargers may still consume electricity. Even if the charge is complete and no longer connected to an appliance, remember always to unplug them.

Track down the standby power of your electrical appliances

Even when switched off, many appliances consume electricity when left plugged in—TVs, DVD players, games consoles, and computers, for example. But there are also coffee makers, microwaves, bread makers, washing machines, and dishwashers. In short, watch out for hidden appliances!

To avoid them, you can equip yourself with “standby cut-off” sockets, which stop the power supply when you switch off an appliance. Similarly, you can find so-called “smart” sockets, which stop the power supply on standby after a certain amount of time. Finally, you can use energy management software that reduces your computer’s power consumption by 40-60%.

Finally, if you are going to be away for a long time, unplug all your electrical appliances, including the water heater. However, beware of connected devices. For example, some washing machines and dishwashers are connected to a leak detection system.

Reduce your electricity bill by optimising the operation of cold-producing appliances

Refrigerators and freezers consume much electricity, and their consumption depends on the temperature difference from the outside. It is best to avoid placing them near a heat source (radiator, oven, hotplates, sunny window, etc.). It is also essential to leave space behind and above the appliance so the air can circulate properly.

Your freezer will do well in an unheated basement or garage. However, it is best to avoid such environments for your fridge. Each appliance is designed to operate within a specific range of ambient temperatures; you can find this information on the documentation and inside the device. Outside this range, its performance will be impaired and over-consume or shut down.

It is also preferable not to open these appliances for too long or too often to avoid losing cold air. Avoid placing hot food, liquids, or uncovered vegetables in the device to prevent evaporation, which can lead to frost build-up. A layer of frost exceeding 3 mm increases the consumption of your appliances by almost 30%.

Finally, to avoid over-consumption and defrosting your appliances, remember to remove dust from their rear grids regularly. You should clean them and check that the seals on their doors are clean and well fitted.

Reduce your electricity bill by using smart lighting

There are many simple things you can do to reduce your electricity bill. You can reduce the electricity you use for lighting and still get the best possible light.

For example, you can arrange your home in such a way as to make the most of natural light. By orienting your furniture to avoid awkward shadows and get maximum light where you need it most (desk, work surface, reading area, etc.), you can save up to one hour of lighting per day! Dress your walls and ceilings in light colours. They reflect the light better, which is also a solution for limiting the use of artificial lighting.

Consider using low-energy light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED lamps can now be adapted to all types of luminaires. You can also adjust the light intensity of your bulbs according to the room: living rooms require between 15 and 20 W perm2 compared with 10 and 15 W perm2 for bedrooms and corridors, and 5 W is sufficient for watching TV or using the computer.