Top Tips on How to Save Money on Electricity At Home

Fed up with seeing your energy bills slowly creeping up each month? The good news is that there are plenty of ways how to save money on electricity at home. So you not only save those precious dollars, but also contribute to a greener, cleaner planet for future generations.

Even implementing small changes can add up to significantly lower your household energy use over time, from altering your daily habits to making some simple home improvements.

We’ve therefore put together a list of some of the best techniques for monitoring and changing your electricity usage to help save money for the things that matter the most, whether you’re renovating or hoping to enjoy more quality family time.

6 Easy Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills

Give our top tips a try today and discover how you can create a more energy-efficient home.

1. Switch to LED Bulbs

Compared to old-style incandescent lighting, LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs have a significantly lower energy consumption. This is because they require much less electricity to convert the same amount of energy into light, as they don’t create heat like other lighting forms.

LED bulbs also last for a longer period of around 25,000 hours, so you won’t need to replace them as frequently. Although they require a higher initial investment, they are therefore more cost-effective in terms of energy use over time.

2. Turn Appliances Off

Although it may sound simple, one of the easiest, yet most overlooked, ways to save energy and money is by switching your household appliances off at the power point on the wall.

Don’t be tempted to leave TVs, air conditioner units, or computers on standby mode, as this can cause your energy costs to skyrocket over time. Instead, turn them completely off at night or when you’re out of the house.

3. Manage Your Heating and Cooling Systems

You should also think about energy efficiency when choosing which heating and cooling systems to install.

For instance, ducted split systems allow zoning, meaning that they can be switched on in only the rooms you’ll be using most. You’re therefore less likely to waste energy or money on an air conditioner or electric fan heater across the whole house.

Choose energy-efficient fans before air conditioning units in the summer, and during the winter layer up with blankets or heated throws as a more cost-effective alternative to heating systems.

We’d also recommend considering the temperature you’re setting your thermostat to and how much energy you could be saving. Keep your thermostat below 20 degrees during the winter, as every extra degree adds another 10% to your energy bills.

4. Use Less Hot Water

Did you know that water heating accounts for approximately a quarter of all the electricity used in Queensland homes?

One highly effective method for lowering your energy bill is to therefore use smaller amounts of hot water where possible, with just a few key changes to your daily routine.

For example, save on water heating by using only cold water to wash your laundry and only use the machine when you have a full load.

Similarly, in the kitchen, try to create more energy-efficient appliances by running the dishwasher in energy-saving mode only when it’s full. Cut down your morning shower time to less than 4 minutes too and you’ll start noticing reductions in your electricity costs.

An additional tip is to check the Energy Rating Label of these appliances before purchasing, which can show you how much they cost to run; the more Energy Rating stars, the cheaper it will be.

5. Invest in Roof Insulation

Another great way to reduce your heating and cooling costs is by installing energy-efficient roof insulation.

Insulation helps to maintain constant temperatures throughout your home all year round, therefore reducing your reliance on expensive air conditioner and mechanical heating systems.

Insulation materials such as batts and rolls do this by using small trapped air pockets to prevent heat transfer through the roof. Reflective insulation like foil is ideal for homes in warmer climates, since it reflects radiant heat away.

Choose roof insulation with high R-values for a higher energy saving, which is a measure of a particular material’s resistance to heat flow.

However, if you’re not yet ready to invest in roof insulation, there are some smaller initial changes that you can implement immediately to stop warm and cool air from escaping.

Try sealing any gaps around windows, doors, floors, and skirting boards to stop draughts, or keep your curtains closed in the hot summer months if the sun regularly hits your windows, for example.

6. Install Solar Panels

Solar power systems reduce the amount of energy you’ll need to purchase from electricity and gas retailers by allowing you to produce your own, therefore lowering energy costs.

As a renewable energy source, solar panels are also the most environmentally friendly way to power your home because they reduce our reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to global warming when burned.

Solar panels work by turning sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity, before transforming this into a 230V alternating current (AC) that can be used to supply your household energy.

Not only can installing a solar system minimise your electricity costs, but in some cases, you can also make money back by selling any excess energy produced through feed-in tariffs.

Save Energy Today with Volteam

At Volteam, we connect homeowners and businesses with renewable energy solutions through solar power, which are designed to save energy and lower your electricity bill. We’re committed to helping you turn Brisbane’s abundance of sunshine into sustainable power, with 5kW solar systems starting from as little as $5.73 per day.

Thanks to our almost two decades of industry experience, our qualified electricians can install anything from solar panels and battery systems to EV charging stations for residential and commercial projects in Queensland.

Our solar power maintenance programs also prevent unexpected breakdowns to extend the lifespan of the system and ensure that your home remains as energy-efficient as possible.

As well as lowering your energy bills, our solar solutions offer excellent quality-price ratios; simply submit a genuine competitor quote and we’ll guarantee to beat their prices on comparable stocked items.

Ready to enjoy industry-leading support? Find out more on how solar power systems can optimise your energy use by giving us a call at 1300 865 832 or scheduling a consultation today.