EnergyWise: 9 Great Ways To Lower Your Electricity Bills

If you are thinking of ways to lower your electricity bills, here are 9 easy ways. Go for it, today and be environmentally friendly too.

Is your electricity bill too high? If it accounts for a major chunk of your household budget, here are some ways to save both money and energy; easily and effectively.

Embrace natural light

During the daytime, make full use of natural light. This can reduce the amount of electricity you use. Whether you are at work or inside your house, open  your curtains/blinds/windows and let the sunshine and fresh air come in! Also, buy/use curtains or blinds in a lighter shade that lets light come through and offers you privacy as well.

Change your bulbs

Another way of saving power is simply changing your bright light bulbs to LED bulbs. They save electricity and also last longer.

Get energy-saving models

Replace your old appliances like refrigerators with the newer models which are designed to conserve energy.

Unplug

Very often we either leave/ forget to switch off the power button after using plugged in appliances  like television /computer/laptops/ music systems/microwave ovens and even phone chargers. Many of us may not be aware that these devices keep consuming energy all day long. Unplugging your appliances every single time you are done  may be inconvenient and tiresome; But, make an effort to unplug them at the end of the day. The savings are worth the trouble.

Run your fridge resourcefully

Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly. Keep your fridge and freezer organized. It will not just be easier for you to find what you need quickly but spend less time standing in front of the fridge door and debating what to eat. More importantly, leaving the fridge door open for a longer time only results in more power consumption. Any food which is hot first needs to be brought down to room temperature before being put away in the fridge; as the heat from the food can warm up the fridge which in turn has to spend more energy cooling( but, do not leave any food out -especially meat, for too long as it can encourage bacterial growth).

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Baking time

Limit your baking (sweet/savory) to once a week and aim to make the most of your baking session by making several dishes during that time. While it may be tempting to keep checking on your pizza or cupcakes (if they are done/ how long before it is going to be done); remember that every time you open the oven door while it’s in use, you release heat and the oven has to use extra energy!

Use the air conditioner sparingly

In summer, it is sometimes unavoidable to use an air conditioner. But, one does not have to have the AC on unnecessarily or at all times just because you have the privilege of having one. You can find other ways to cool yourself down when possible- like having good cross ventilation or using ceiling fans instead when possible. Close all doors and windows tightly when the AC is on so that the cool air does not escape. Also, avoid switching it on and off or adjusting the temperature repeatedly as you are only making the AC work harder by re-starting itself and cooling down the room all over again(using up even more electricity).

Use candles

This might seem impractical thing to do but aim to use candles once a week over dinner-time! They are not just cost effective but give a peaceful and romantic ambiance as well.

Take a look around yourself right now- whether you are at home, office or a public place. Is there any electrical device(a tube light/fan) or appliance that you think is running needlessly? Switch it off now or get someone to do it for you( in a public place).

Conserving electricity helps serve a twin purpose over a period of time – helps you stop global warming and definitely saves a lot of your hard-earned income!

Cover image via Shutterstock

First published at the author’s blog

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