Many things we use need electricity: lighting, internet, computers, TV, oven, refrigerator, etc. and we often get shocked how much we use electricity when the bill arrives.
We should start using less electricity, not just for the sake of saving money, but also help the environment.
Below are 10 tips on how to use less electricity, thus, reduce your electricity bill and also save the environment:
1. Choose the Right Provider
No matter how little you use the electricity around the house, your bill may be unnecessarily high if you’re with the wrong provider. To find out which company provides the best price, you’ll need to look at your past or current bill and see the rate per kWh the company charges and the daily rate of the supply charge.
2. Unplug All Unused Electronics
The standby TV, standby DVD players, the radio you’re not really listening to, the alarm clock you’re not using anymore, unplug all.
3. Replace Old Desktop With Laptop
Not only more portable, but laptop computers also consume up to 80 percent less electricity than desktop computers.
4. Only Wash When the Loads Are Full
Don’t wash clothes weekly just because it’s a routine. If you only have, say, 12 dirty clothes per week while your washing machine can load 35 clothes, then you should wait until you have 35 dirty clothes to wash.
5. Use Cold Water for Laundry
While hot or warm water may be necessary to clean some stains and make certain fabrics like nylon and spandex easier to wash, remember that it is also likely to shrink or fade and ruin clothes.
6. Set the Fridge Temperature Accordingly
The ideal temperature for your fridge should be between 2°C and 3°C and your freezer should be at -18°C.
7. Avoid Using the Electric Dryer
It’s tempting to dry the freshly washed clothes in the electric dryer, expecting all of them to dry within half an hour or so. Do you need them to dry immediately? If not, use a clothesline to hang all your washed clothes and let them dry naturally. Here is how to hang dry your clothes correctly so they dry quicker with less wrinkles.
8. Use Energy-Saving Led Light Globes
It’s true that LED bulbs are more expensive, but it’s cheaper in the long run. While halogen bulbs last between 1,000 to 4,000 hours and CFLs last approximately 6,000 hours, LED bulbs last between 15,000 to 50,000 hrs.
9. Set Heater Thermostat 2 Degrees Lower
During a 5°C winter, setting your heater to 22°C may be ideal. But if you lower it to 2 or even 5°C lower than 22 you will see a lower electricity bill. Anything above 15°C and below 20°C is obviously better than the cold 5°C.
“The rule of thumb is that you can save about 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat.”
source: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/tip-2-turn-your-thermostat-down-3-degrees/
10. Choose the Right TV
If you often watch TV, here is a breakdown of how much the hourly cost of running it on what size with what star rating (based on the Australian energy rating standard).
The hourly cost of running a television
| TV Size | 2 star | 3 star | 4 star | 5 star | 6 Star |
| 24” | 11.24c | 8.9c | 7.2c | 5.7c | 4.6c |
| 32” | 19.4c | 15.5c | 12.4c | 9.9c | 7.9c |
| 48” | 43.5c | 34.8c | 27.8c | 22.3c | 17.8c |
| 50” | 47.1c | 37.6c | 30.1c | 24.1c | 19.3c |
| 55” | 57.1c | 45.7c | 36.5c | 29.2c | 23.4c |
| 60” | 67.2c | 53.8c | 43c | 34.4c | 27.5c |
| 65” | 79.1c | 63.3c | 50.6c | 40.5c | 32.4 |
| 70” | 92c | 73.57c | 58.9c | 47.1c | 37.7c |
| 80” | 119.5c | 95.6c | 76.4c | 61.2c | 48.9c |
