If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to reduce your power bills, it’s essential you understand which of your appliances are the most thirsty for electricity.
We probably all know by now that leaving devices on standby doesn’t save much more electricity than if you were using them. Good examples are the TV, its attached cable box and the microwave oven.
These types of gadgets suck up “phantom energy”, which keeps your electricity meter ticking 24 hours a day.
The box for your cable TV can use more than $40 of electricity a year simply by sitting idle while the television will use $30 of power just by hanging on the wall or sitting on a cabinet waiting to be nudged awake.
Game consoles, desktop computers and laptops are culprits, too.
Try some of these ideas to help reduce your power bills.
Unplug devices
Use power strips to conveniently cut off power to devices and appliances, or simply take the plug from the wall.
Light and bright
Replace any incandescent bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs. They use less energy and last longer.
Rethink routine
Consider changing habits, such as using hot or warm water for washing clothes. Cold wash works, too. Always run a dishwasher and washing machine with full loads. And turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Strategic purchases
Work out how you might be able to slowly replace significant appliances, like a fridge or washing machine, with more energy-efficient models.
Plan power
Use your thermostat to reduce heating and cooling when there’s no one in the home. There’s no point in having the air-con humming away if there’s no one home to benefit.
Seal it
The amount of energy lost through poor insulation is incredible. Draughty windows and doors should be fixed, and check the quality of insulation in your roof, too.
At your service
It’s always a smart move to have your air-con serviced so that a technician ensures the filters are clean and the system works with maximum efficiency.
Shoot for the stars
Look at solar panels as a long-term solution. Usually, the payback period is around seven to nine years, depending on how much energy you use and the cost of the panels and inverter. A system for a household of four may cost between $9,000 to $14,000.