How to keep your energy bills down this Winter
As the cooler weather approaches, energy use in the home starts to increase and eventually spike, often resulting in increased energy bills. On average, energy use increases up to 20% during the winter months, a financial burden that Aussie homeowners might forget to factor into their monthly or quarterly outgoings. Here are some energy-saving tips to help you avoid high energy bills and ultimately, be environmentally cautious.
1. Take shorter showers
Did you know that hot water is one of the biggest users of electricity in your home? According to the Riverina Water County Council, the average daily water consumption in Australia is 340 litres per person. By reducing your time in the shower, the amount of water used per day will decrease dramatically. Also, choosing showers instead of baths will help to reduce your water consumption by up to 40%.
2. Only heat the areas that need to be heated
Heating and cooling are notorious for using the most amount of household energy throughout the year. With up to 40% of overall energy consumption in average Australian households being accumulated by heating, the best way to reduce this amount is through only heating the areas that you use the most. You should also close windows and doors to ensure that heat doesn’t escape. Reducing the time you heat your home by one hour a day can save up to 90 hours of heating over the winter.
3. Insulate your house
Insulating your home this winter is a great way to stay warm and avoid high energy bills. As installing or upgrading installation systems in your home retains heat and reduces the ability for it to escape, it can decrease energy bills up to half or can reduce your overall costs by 40 – 50%.
4. Smart Homes
The installation of the smart home technology within your home provides an efficient and environmentally friendly way to reduce your energy consumption in winter. This installation gives each house owner the opportunity to control their energy usage through mobile devices, rather than adjusting it manually. It reduces the amount of wasted energy on heating and cooling, as owners can regulate their house temperature no matter where they are. Also, with lighting and appliance usage leaving a large carbon footprint, smart homes allow you to reduce electrical consumption and provide a smarter way to manage home appliances.