7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

How electricity savvy are you?

Any expense that can be decreased in the family budget means more money that can be spent in other areas that are feeling the pinch of one wage, or the constant rise of living (not to mention the added expenses that pop up as the kids get older!). The obvious approach to reducing your electricity bill, is to reduce consumption. However, there are other ways to reduce your bill too (though reducing consumption is certainly not to be underestimated!).

Here are my top 7 SIMPLE ways to reduce your electricity bill, and take back the power.

1). Only operate appliances when they’re at full capacity.

For instance, don’t just wash half a load of washing, only to run the washing machine again for the other half the next day. Using double the electricity just doesn’t make sense! For instance, are you washing a set of kid’s sheets unexpectedly? Have a quick hunt through the laundry hamper and throw in any towels or small sheets to fill the washing machine. You’re being productive in that you won’t have to wash those towels tomorrow, and you’re saving electricity at the same time without increasing your workload (you’d have had to wash those towels eventually!). Of course, there will always be exceptions to this rule. But once you start looking for little extras you can throw in at the same time, it really simplifies things. Just don’t apply this rule to using the kettle: you may wait all day for that cup of coffee! By boiling only the water you need (and boiling it once), you’ll still be saving electricity as opposed to boiling a full jug for one cup of tea.

2). Give your energy bill a health check.

When was the last time you compared electricity prices? Getting an online energy quote is free and an easy way to see how much you can save. If you have a previous (or your most recent) electricity bill on hand, it’s super simple to compare, helping you find the perfect energy plan for your household.

3). Consider having solar power installed.

Now, this is one of those things that makes sense, but the average Joe <puts her hand up> feels like they need to be a trained expert to decipher the electrical jargon. My best advice is to ask family/ friends/ colleagues their recommendations and experiences within your local area. Chances are, even if they don’t have solar power themselves, they’ll know somebody who has. Also look at reviews online. Once you have a few recommendations, call up and organise a few obligation free quotes. This is a great place to start as the electrician will tell you exactly what your household will need and how much you’ll need to invest. And once it IS installed, the heat from the sun will start to reduce your consumption and potentially EARN you money.

4). Practice mindful T.V usage.

Stop and consider for a moment. How much joy does your television bring to your home? I have 101 things to do, yet at the end of the day once I have the kids in bed, it’s so easy to flick on the T.V and switch off my brain. It robs me of my time with mindless flicking of channels, searching for something mildly interesting or entertaining. Unless it’s something that particularly holds your attention, don’t just watch it out of habit. By switching off, electricity will be saved and you’ll get those craft projects finished, that letter written to a friend, that overdue soak in the bath…And what about the kids? Encourage them to switch off and dig through the mountain of activity or colouring books; to play outside; to learn something new…T.V certainly can be good in small doses. But it can also be toxic. How much could you save by switching off?

5). Check the temperature setting on your fridge and freezer.

Setting the temperature controls lower than necessary means that your fridge and freezer need to work for longer and harder to get that temperature back down to that low setting. Check in your instruction booklet or online with your manufacturer as to what the typical guidelines are for your particular appliance. Whilst you’re looking at your fridge, check that there is room for air to circulate at the sides and back of your unit to keep it from getting too hot. Also consider that a full fridge is easier to cool than an empty one (that’s why we keep so many water bottles in ours…at least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!), as there is less air space to cool. In saying that, there’s also such a thing as having too much in your fridge…so it’s best to aim for a happy medium! 

6). Get into the habit of turning off your mobile phone or device charger at the wall when not in use.

A very simple fix for all appliances when not in use: they draw a small amount of power, but when it’s added up throughout your home and over days, weeks and months, it really adds up! And if all it takes is the flick of a switch, well, why not? (Oh, and a quick bonus tip: when we go away for a few days or more at a time, I turn off our hot water system. There’s no point in heating water for the pipes, no one is there!).

7). Use your curtains/ blinds; windows; and heating/ cooling unit, wisely throughout the day.

In warmer weather, leaving all the windows and doors open can give enough relief by way of airflow that using the air-conditioning isn’t required. By closing the curtains/ blinds at whatever window the sun is glaring through (depending on the time of day), a significant amount of heat will be blocked from heating your house further. (In cooler months, do the opposite). If it’s too hot for these measures or ceiling/ pedestal fans to have enough of an effect, set the air-conditioning to a comfortable temperature of 24°C: note we’re aiming for comfortable, not freezing! 

There we have it. My 7 simple ways to reduce your electricity bill.

This is only the tip of the iceberg though: once you have an electricity-savvy mind frame, you’ll start to form a list of your own tailored to your family’s personal usage. Once you start getting energy savvy, find more ideas to extend your budget and finances.

Article written by Sara Johnston in conjunction with amaysim.