When it comes to saving money, small changes can go a long way. Certain changes in your home could substantially reduce your electricity bills, as well as helping the planet. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Switch things off
It sounds so simple, but you’d be surprised by how many appliances in your house are sucking up electricity when you think they’re off. Televisions, for example, are notorious for using nearly as much power on standby as they do when they’re on (up to 90%). Everything you generally keep under your TV, like your DVD player, also doesn’t need to be on unless you’re actually using it. Simple things, like unplugging chargers when you’re not using them, can also make a difference.
Investing in an energy monitor can really show you where your power (and your money) is going. Some energy providers will give you one for free.
Buy new appliances
Buying new things doesn’t sound like the most sensible way to save money, but old appliances are not the most energy-efficient. Replacing things like your fridge, dishwasher, washing machine or oven with newer, energy-efficient models will ensure that your energy, and therefore your money, is being used more efficiently.
Save money on household chores
Switching appliances down during your everyday household routine could start to make a difference. Turning the temperature down on your washing machine and dishwasher can be a good way to start. You could also reduce the duration of the cycle. Not only will this save water and electricity; it can also help you get stuff done around the house more quickly. Your dishes and clothes probably don’t always need to be washed in boiling hot water because warm or cold will usually do the job.
Lighting
The sale of light bulbs has been banned for a while, but there are still a lot in use. Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient energy-saving lamps or LED lamps. And more importantly: turn off the light where no lighting is needed.
Slug consumption
Up to 10% of the electricity consumption in your home is due to silent consumers (lights, time indications) that need energy every day and night. Switch these devices off as much as possible with the on / off button or via a power strip. By limiting the consumption of consumption, you can save up to 150 dollars per year.
Television and decoder
All new television sets have an energy label. Plasma screens consume more than LCD TVs with LED backlighting. The decoder for digital television uses a lot of energy. Limit the ‘stealth consumption’ and switch off the devices completely if you do not watch TV or have planned any recordings. Also, check whether your device does not have an energy-efficient (stand-by) mode that can reduce standby consumption.
Washing, drying, and ironing
Washing at 30 ° produces very good washing results and saves electricity. The dryer is a real energy eater. With an A-label device, however, consumption is already dropping by half. Even outside the summer months, the laundry can often be dried on a rack or outside. And is ironing not your favorite activity? Try to minimize this by immediately folding up the dry laundry and laying the pieces aside.
Cooling and freezing
Only refrigerators and freezers can be sold with an A + label. Do not leave your refrigerator or freezer open longer than necessary and defrost your freezer regularly. A layer of ice of 2 mm already gives a consumption of 10%.
Wash at 30 degrees
The laundry is also fine when you wash it at 30 degrees. And the lower temperature can save you 8 euros per year.
Hang up the laundry
The dryer and centrifuge both use a lot of energy. In addition, the smell that was dried in the open air is also delicious.
Dry multiple loads were consecutive
If you still need to use the dryer, make sure you have several loads ready, so that the dryer does not cool down completely during the turns.
Remove the dust from the dryer filter for each turn
This keeps the dryer working efficiently.
Only boil the amount of water that you actually need
Do not fill the entire kettle when you make one cup of tea. A lot of energy is needed to boil water, and the more water there is in the kettle, the more energy is needed. This can save about 10 dollars a year if you drink a lot of tea.
Invest in a good thermos
When you put hot water directly into a thermos you only have to boil water once or twice a day for tea.
Use the oven efficiently
Heating the oven for one pizza or two rolls is a waste of energy. Make sure you can bake several things at once and get more out of the same heat.
Clean the air supply of the oven
If it is not clean, the oven can become hotter than necessary.
The Last Thing: Use a dishwashing machine
You waste gigantic amounts of water, detergent, and energy when you run the hot tap and do the dishes. So use a dishwashing machine. This can save around $ 45 per year. That is also more economical than using a dishwasher.
