Over the last few weeks here at I Spy Plum Pie we’ve talked cooling your home, reducing our use of plastics and other easy ways to go green, so today I thought I’d share some more tips to both save you money AND reduce our impact on the planet with some easy ways to implement energy savings at home!
Turn Off Lights & Use Fewer Lights
Turning off lights when you’re not in the room is a pretty simple trick, but it’s incredible how much energy you can save through this little change of habit. To take it even further, use lamps (with energy saving lightbulbs of course!) rather than turning on all your lights when you’re doing things like reading, working at your desk or even watching tv. It’s known as ‘task lighting’ and it allows you to still have enough light to do whatever you need to be doing but reduces the overall number of lights you have on significantly. You’d be astounded for the amount of energy that’s being wasted on a global scale. You can know that when you compare energy and understand what’s at stake, and can proceed on taking preventive measures.
Vacuum Fridge & Freezer Coils
I know looking behind the fridge is never a fun thought, but every six months or so it’s really worth pulling your fridge out and giving any exposed coils a good vacuum. This allows them to work more efficiently and reduces the energy required to keep them at their optimal temperatures. The point of fridge coils is to dissipate the heat and they can’t do that properly if they are covered in dust, pet hair and who knows what else, so it really does help! For a heavier duty clean you might need some soapy water and a scrubbing brush, so make sure you unplug the fridge before you give that a try!
Wash in Cold Water
Washing machines can be a huge energy user and one of the easiest ways to reduce this is to make friends with the cold water cycle. Nearly all the energy used by a washing machine is through heating the water, so by cutting that out it will reduce your energy usage dramatically. It also helps to try and only run the machine when you have a full load of washing ready to go, as unsurprisingly the less times you use it the less energy it will need to use!
Dry Clothes on Lines or Racks
Clothes driers are huge energy pits so whenever possible dry your washing on a clothesline or portable racks. Drying in the sunshine also helps to whiten your whites, and if you fold items straight from the line (or hang them up on coat hangers) it can reduce your need to pull out the iron as they are less likely to be creased. If you do need to use your clothes drier, separate out your clothes by weight as lighter items will be quicker to dry so won’t need as long in the drier. You should also keep your filters nice and clean as this will allow your drier to operate more efficiently, using less energy in the process.
Turn Off Unnecessary Devices
Leaving devices on when you’re not using them, even on standby mode, can be a huge energy drain, increasing your bills significantly. When you’re not using things like your tv, computer, music systems and the like you should always switch them off at the wall to be sure they are no longer drawing energy. It doesn’t stop at just that. In fact, it begins from purchasing appliances from a Multimedia Tech Houston which have an energy saving rating. This doesn’t just go for items in your lounge room either – electrical items in your bathroom like hairdryers and electric toothbrushes should also be turned off at the powerpoint. Using a power board can be a helpful way to switch lots of devices off in one go, whilst also protecting your devices from any power surges.
Lower the Temperature on your Hot Water Heater
By reducing the temperature on your hot water heater (60-65C for water storage in the tank and 50C for instantaneous services) you can save a lot of energy as your standby hot water won’t continually be heated to a temperature much higher than you’re likely to need. It also means that when you’re after some hot water the heater won’t be attempting to heat all your water to a very high temperature (which you’re only going to adjust with the cold tap anyway!), using lots of energy in the process. Heaters need regular maintenance so they can function properly. Check out https://www.kcsheatingair.com/ to schedule in-home estimates.
Better yet get a solar water heater from Eurosun solar systems. They have reliable services, and they also have two different versions that you can choose from. You will save a lot of electricity by installing one of these in your home!
Only Run the Dishwasher When Full
Running your dishwasher only when full will save you both energy AND water, so it’s a double win! It’s also important to run it on the most efficient setting which generally uses lower water temperatures, and whilst they can take a little longer to run they still save significant power. If you can, run your dishwasher overnight as this is when electricity has the least demand across the grid and will save you money whilst also reducing peak-energy demand in general. If you are still not seeing any savings when your electricity bill comes every month, then please consider looking for other electricity providers like 4change energy, who can offer you more affordable electricity plans.
For more detailed energy tips to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter check out my posts on those topics!
And that’s it! My easy-peasy energy savings at home tips! I’d love to hear yours as well!
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!
merilyn
November 22, 2014 at 7:11 am (9 years ago)thanks liz! … <3 it!
this is a good list and I'm doing all of those things! … except, I need to clean behind my fridge and move it out from the wall a bit more I think! … we keep our energy bill down! the world needs people like you! love m:)X
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
November 22, 2014 at 8:58 am (9 years ago)Thanks for all your support Merilyn, you’re very lovely! xx
Nicole- Champagne and Chips
November 24, 2014 at 10:38 am (9 years ago)Such a good post! I definitely need to do the fridge vacuum, I had never thought of that before.
Nicole- Champagne and Chips recently posted…Brown Rice Salad Recipe
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
November 24, 2014 at 1:58 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Nicole, glad to hear it was useful!
ELTEC
September 22, 2019 at 1:28 am (5 years ago)How much do you save by turning down your hot water heater?
Happy Hiller
November 12, 2019 at 1:20 am (4 years ago)Thanks for the suggestions! I find this article really helpful! Keep it up!
Bob Burgess
October 21, 2020 at 5:06 pm (3 years ago)Great post! Thanks for sharing the knowledge and keep posting more.