Lighting Lessons – How to Reduce Your Homes Electricity Bills
The cost of energy has drastically increased over the years. The energy prices in Australia are among the highest in the world. This means that Australians residents pay so much more on electricity. In as much as there is nothing you can do concerning the high energy prices, you can try and consume as little of this energy as possible so that you can keep your homes electricity bills as little as possible.
There are so many ways in which you can save up on electricity. Most of these ways do not require much time or money. Here are some of the things that you can do to reduce the electricity bill in your home.
1. Install Skylights
Investing in a skylight is one of the best ways of cutting down on energy consumption. Apart from adding beauty and value to the home, skylights provide natural lighting to the house, they improve the air circulation and helps to keep the house warm. This means that you will not need to use your HVAC unit as much. There are different types of skylights available in the market today that can fit every home and your needs perfectly.
2. Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Saving the cost of energy in your home can be as simple as changing the light bulbs that you use. Instead of the normal light bulbs, switch to energy-saving bulbs and LED bulbs. These bulbs use 90 percent less energy than other bulbs and they also last longer.
Start by replacing the widely used bulbs in your home then slowly replace the rest until they are the only bulbs that you use.
3. Install Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches reduce the amount of electricity that flows to the bulbs. This then allows the bulbs to use a low power output and hence low energy cost. Dimmer switches will also help to extend the life of your bulbs since they will be burning under little stress.
With dimmer switches, you will be able to use only the right amount of light that you need.
4. Turn Off The Lights and unused electrical appliances
Leaving lights on when not in use is a bad habit that so many people are used to doing and it also leads to high energy waste. This applies to desk lamps and any other plugged-in electrical devices that are not in use. Studies show that Australians lose over 20 billion hours’ worth of energy
The habit of leaving the computer and TV on the whole day and not switching off your phone charges when not in use should stop immediately. Such practices can contribute to over 75% energy loss. Studies show that Australians lose over 20 billion hours’ worth of energy on such habits.
5. Seal the House
A lot of energy is wasted when the house is not properly insulated. Get the right insulated materials for your home and have it installed with a professional and this can save up on the energy that is lost through the cracks, doors, and windows of your home. Use caulk to seal up leaks. Doing this can save your energy cost by 15% to 30%.
6. Use Solar Energy
The world is going green and so should you. Install solar panels in your home and see how much less electricity you will use. Solar panels are expensive but you can start small, use solar energy for your security lights because they require only smaller and affordable panels.
Summary
These practices and many more can help save up on the amount of energy that you use in your home. Remember, it is possible to have your home running on only the right amount of energy that you need.
