There are many reasons to bring down your energy bills. While the financial gains are the most
obvious, cutting down power consumption is also beneficial to the environment. Apart from
essential cooling, heating and home appliances, there are simple ways through which you can
reduce consumption without making any significant changes to your lifestyle. Here are the top
ways in which you can make a difference to your bills and the planet.
Insulate your home
One of the most common ways through which your home loses its heat is poor insulation. By
ensuring proper insulation of your home, you can prevent heat loss and save substantially on
cooling or heating appliances. Ensure that you seal cracks in the wall and fix leaks in the sealing
as soon as you notice them. It is estimated that you can reduce your power bill by over 15% by
simply fixing these insulation problems.
Eco-friendly laundry
One of the simplest ways to save energy is to change some settings in your washing machine.
By switching from hot water to cold water wash cycles, you can save precious energy wasted on
heating. Likewise, you can also save substantial amounts on your bill by air drying your clothes
instead of using a separate dryer machine. If your washing machine is fairly old, it may not be
as effective as newer models. So if you are planning on buying a new one, check for the energy
savings star rating for each model you consider.
Switch off and unplug
It is interesting to note that all electronic appliances, even when switched off, continue to absorb
electricity, be it your laptop or phone charger, stereo, gaming console or television. It is a
good practice to switch off any electronics that aren’t in use and unplug them. This will reduce
unnecessary energy wastage.
Choose energy efficient appliances
Owing to the rising importance of environment friendly appliances, most electronics and home
appliances come with energy efficient labels and star ratings. Choose refrigerators, microwaves,
lights, computers, televisions and other kitchen appliances based on high energy saving ratings
that can dramatically reduce your bill.
Change the lighting
You don’t need 60W bulbs in your home, especially if you want to save electricity. Energy
efficient options like CFL and LED bulbs are taking the market by strong. Offering the same
luminescence as regular bulbs, these lighting alternatives are known to be over 80% more
effective than standard ones. So switch to LED or CFL lights instead of the traditional bulb.
Regular maintenance and repair
Malfunctioning or improper electronic appliances are one of the biggest culprits of power
wastage. By replacing or repairing your electronics, kitchen appliances and other power
consuming outlets, you can easily prevent wastage of electricity. Every time your air conditioner
or refrigerator makes noise, get them repaired immediately to keep them running in top
condition. If you find that any of your appliances are beyond repair, seek a suitable alternative
immediately by either purchasing a new model or a used one that works perfectly.
