By taking small steps to reduce electricity usage in your home, you could save yourself a surprising amount of money.
In ensuring your electrical system is energy efficient, this is a good start to reducing your power bills. SGV Electrical have compiled a list of simple steps to take, to ensure your home is the most efficient it can be.
Get informed
Electricity bills from different electricity retailers all look a little bit different, but they all contain the same information. Understanding your electricity bill will help you reduce the amount of electricity your household uses and choose an electricity plan that offers a cheaper electricity consumption price. Compare electricity and gas retailers in your area, and decide whether time-of-use pricing, off-peak hot water, and smart meters are for you.
Identifying energy hot spots around the home
To reduce your electricity and gas bills it helps to know about the major sources of household energy consumption and where your household fits in.
The major sources of energy use around the typical Australian home are spread across heating water, heating and cooling and refrigeration and other electrical appliances. Standby power, lighting and cooking make up most of the rest of your household energy bill. Growing sources of energy use around the home include air conditioning, entertainment systems, computers, pools and spas, and outdoor lighting. Appliances can be responsible for a lot of the energy consumption in your home. Always choose and use energy-efficient appliances. When shopping for appliances, look for the Energy Rating label, with the star rating indicating energy efficiency.
Water heating and laundry
Ensure your electric hot water is on a controlled load (off-peak) tariff
Use cold water for laundry
Wash full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine
Avoid using the dryer where possible
Air conditioning and heating
Adjust your air conditioner up by 1 or 2 degrees
Up to 40% of the heat in your home could be leaking out of your windows. Close all the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the room while using the air conditioner or heater
In winter open curtains to let the sun in and close curtains before it gets dark to keep the heat in especially while your heater is on. In summer, close curtains during the hottest part of the day. At night you can open curtains and windows to let warm air out and cool breezes in.
Ensure your home is properly insulated
Kitchen
Choose more energy efficient appliances when shopping
Limit the time the fridge door is open (especially if you have children!
Lighting
Turn off lights when nobody is in the room
Install energy efficient LED Lightbulbs
TV and entertainment
Switch off the TV and other entertainment appliances at the wall when nobody is using them
Standby is still using power
Turn everything off at the wall, appliances use power even when not in use
Turn off phone chargers, tablet chargers and gaming consoles, as these also use standby power
Avoiding the peak: stop your bills climbing
Under some contracts, energy can cost you less if you use it outside the peak timesusually after 10pm through till 7am. For some households this can be an effective way to reduce energy bills. To take advantage of reduced tariffs or costs you need to have access to off-peak hot water or time-of-use-pricing. Lowering your energy usage and considering off-peak options (i.e. time-of-use tariffs) are 2 of the cheapest and easiest ways to reduce your electricity bill.
Lowering your usage also reduces pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the need for further infrastructure development.
SGV Electrical can help you replace and install any power saving appliances to kick start saving on your energy bills Call us NOW on 1300 944 022
 "Lowering the Cost of your Energy Bill")
