Last updated on April 18th, 2022
Here are a few effective things you can do, to bring down your energy consumption in small ways that have little or no impact on your lifestyle. Read on to know what they are!
1. Use heavy appliances outside of peak hours
Yes, just like there are peak hours during which traffic on the roads is high, there are peak hours when electricity demand across the country is high. And it is also important to remember that you pay more for electricity during peak hours than you do at other times.
Just avoid using heavy appliances like washing machines, ACs, and heaters between these two windows: 6-9 in the morning and 4-9 in the evening, and you’ll see your electricity bills going down, just like that!
2. Use lights only when they’re essential
How many times does your hand automatically go to the light switch when you want to use the bathroom in the daytime? Let’s admit it. Almost all of us are guilty of this one.
But think of it this way. Just because a space in the house has electric lights, doesn’t mean we need to use them. Let’s make use of natural light in the daytime, wherever possible. And even at night, let’s make sure all non-essential lights are turned off.
3. Keep an eye on the AC temperature
The most optimum energy setting for your AC is at 26 degrees Celsius. And for every degree above 22, it actually consumes lesser and lesser energy. It helps then, to be cognizant of your ACs temperature setting when you’re using it. What you can also do is to switch to low cool or medium cool, once the room has cooled sufficiently, and use ceiling fans to help circulate the air and take some of the burden off the AC.
Also, if you’re planning on getting a new AC, make sure it has a high energy rating. For the uninitiated, the more the number of stars in an appliance’s energy rating, the higher its energy rating, and the lesser energy it consumes.
4. Change the temperature setting of your water heater
Here are a few simple ways you can minimize how much you pay for the use of hot water. Avoid taking hot showers in the summer. It isn’t good for your body, anyway. Also, most water heaters are set to maximum heat all the time, and none of us need the water to be that hot. Just change the temperature setting of your water heater to a lower number to reduce electricity consumption. And most importantly, don’t leave the water heater switch on, when the heater is not in use.
5. Make sure your laptops aren’t draining energy
You can limit your electricity consumption even as you work or study. Here’s how. If you’re using a laptop, you’re saving more electricity than you would if you were using a desktop. (Yes, desktops consume more electricity.)
Furthermore, make sure you turn your electronics to sleep mode when you take breaks, turn off the laptop chargers once you’ve finished charging, and avoid using screensavers that require more energy and burn your laptop out faster.
6. Wash in full loads
Want to reduce the electricity consumed by your washing machine? No, we aren’t going to ask you to leave that pile of dirty clothes unwashed. Just keep these small things in mind and you’ll see your bills dwindling!
If you’re replacing your old washing machine, be sure to invest in one which has a high energy rating. Always wash a full load of clothes, as even a half load will take the same amount of electricity to get washed. And remember to turn the washing machine and dryer off, right at the plug point, when they’re not in use.
Simple, isn’t it? Wait till you see the next electricity bill!
