Now is a perfect time to brush up on all those money-saving tips which will benefit your hip pocket and they’ll be good for the environment as well.
Combatting The Cold
A lot of energy saving measures for the colder months may seem small and insignificant, however with a little vigilance and common sense they can really slow down the ticking of your electricity meter.
For starters, why not get back into those good old-fashioned ways of keeping warm: a hot cup of tea or coffee and some extra layers, and don’t forget the hot water bottle to make those bed sheets a little less chilly.
Another practical idea is to make sure curtains and blinds are opened wide during the day to allow the winter sun to warm up your home. Of course shutting them again once the sun is no longer on them ensures the warmth won’t escape quite so fast.
Here is a list of ideas to save power while using gas and electric heaters:
- Firstly, you save the most electricity when your heater is turned off. Programming your heater to switch off after you’re tucked in bed, and to turn back on before you wake up in the morning is a real power saver.
- Converse to cooling a room with an air-con in summer, waiting until temperatures have dropped below the usual 12 degrees before switching on heaters, can add up to some real savings over the winter months.
- Heating just one room of the house – the one your are in, rather than the whole house – is another great tip.
- While a heater is running, do make sure that the area is as air-tight as possible, ensuring all windows and doors are fully closed. This not only prevents the warm air from escaping but also blocks any nasty draughts.
- Finally, bear in mind that a small electric heater usually has more expensive running costs than other heating options.
General Tips On How To Save
- When cooking, try to choose saucepans which cover the whole element completely. This will not only ensure that the dish is heated evenly, but that there is no waste in energy, which is the result when small pots are placed on large elements. Another tip in this area is to be sure to use saucepans with well-fitting lids fully utilising any energy.
- In the laundry try to wash clothes only when there is a full load, this will of course save on electricity expenses, along with the added bonus of saving water – and time.
- Another tip in the laundry is that front load washing machines are known to use less power. Switching to cold water will also save electricity, along with using shorter washing cycles.
- There are measures to be taken in the kitchen as well. Such as defrosting food by thawing it in the fridge rather than using a microwave, and avoiding opening fridge and freezer doors as much as possible. Likewise appliances such as fridges and freezers run better when they are full but not overloaded.
In the home there really are a plethora of ways in which energy saving measures can be employed. This is the case particularly in the colder months.
Residents on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with any issues requiring an electrician can take advantage of the fantastic services offered by our team at Everest Electrical. We welcome your call now on 0410 229 139.