Energy Saving Tips That Homeowners Should Always Keep in Mind

Are your home's electricity bills soaring to the heavens? Well if they are, then you're either using multiple appliances at the same time, or you're just not a fan of energy-efficiency. Ask any professional electrician Brisbane out there with regard to energy efficiency, and I guess all of them will say that energy efficiency means that you're using less energy to do the same jobs, reducing your home's energy waste and saving money. Being energy-efficient irequires that you become aware of how energy is used, where it's wasted and how it can be utilized more effectively in daily life. Here are a number of vital energy-saving tips for homeowners.



Keep Your Refrigerators and Freezers Full

Here's the first major energy-efficiency tip that we got from our friendly and reliable electrician Brisbane, and it's keeping your refrigerator and freezer full. Refs and freezers are actually more efficient when they're full, although be careful about overfilling them as this reduces the airflow and causes the ref or freezer to work harder.

Dress for the Weather

When you and your family are at home, dress in cooler clothing during the hot summer, and warm clothing during winter, so that you'll remain comfortable without making your air conditioner or heater work double time!

When Not in Use, Turn Off the Lights

The second major energy-efficiency tip would be to turn off the lights when these are not in use. Remember that lighting accounts for a big 12% of your regular home electricity bills. And, don't leave your mobile phone plugged overnight too, because it only takes a few hours to charge it.

Make sure you turn off the oven a few minutes before cooking time runs out, as your food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity. Watch your appliance placement too, like avoid putting appliances which give off heat (like Tvs and lamps) near a thermostat.

With regards to thermostats, make sure you install a programmable thermostat. Why? Well, because this will automatically adjust the temperature according to yoru schedule (as well as according to the weather conditions).

Don't Leave Bathroom Fans Running, and Replace Your Windows

Check your bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans too, because they should be turned off when not in use. Replace your windows too, because if your home has single-pane windows, you could replace them with more energy-efficient windows. Or you could add solar shades or tinting film.



Use Dishwashers and Clothes Washers at Night

According to enery-saving experts, using dishwashers and clothes washers/dryers at night surprisingly helps to keep the home cooler, and it also reduces the strain on the power grid during peak hours between 4 Pm and 6 PM!

Control Your Fixtures with a Photocell

To make sure that only your homes outdoor lights are operating from dusk to dawn, control your fixtures with a photocell or a timer. Don't leave your electronic items and appliances on all day long too, and only turn them on when you need them.

Close Blinds, Shades and Drapes During Warmer Months

Make sure you close the blinds, drapes and shades too during warmer months, to keep your home's temperature cooler, as well as to reduce the work performed by your air conditioner. Open these items during cooler months to let the sun naturally warm your home!

Don't Peek in the Oven While Baking If you just can’t wait for the cakes, cookies and other pastries to bake to perfection , let me remind you that every time you peek, the oven's temperature can drop to 25 F, which makes the oven use more electricity to bring the temperature back up!

Regularly Clean and Replace Home Filters

Dirty filters in your home make your electrical system work harder, and run longer than necessary. Thus, make sure you regularly clean them. Defrost your refrigerator and freezer too before the ice buildup becomes ¼ thick. This ensures that your appliances are efficiently running!

Change Light Bulbs to LEDs

To further cut on your soaring electricity bills, change your standard light bulbs to LEDs. LED's use lesser electricity, and they have a low carbon footprint too. To further reduce utility bills, sealing cracks and leaks (as well as adding insulation) can save as much as 10% on home heating and cooling bills!

Heat and Cool Efficiently

According to data provided by Australian energy regulators, more than half the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Thus, make smart and sound decisions about your home's heating, ventilating and air conditioning system.

Maintain Your Equipment With the help of a professional electrician Brisbane, preventive maintenance can help keep your home's heating and cooling system at peak performance always. Tune-up your HVAc equipment regullarly, to prevent future problems like overheating and fires. Seal Heating & Cooling Ducts

The home's heating and cooling ducts are often the most missed out items, especially in terms of regular maintenance, because they're hidden from plain view. However these are very crucial items, as the ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house with forced-air heating an dcooling systems.

In a typical home, around 20% to 30% of the air that moves throught he ducts is lost due to holes, leaks and poorly-connected ducts. The result is high utility bills, and a clear inability to keep the home comfortable!

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old (and it's not keeping your home comfortable), then it would be best to have it checked or evaluated by a professional electrician Brisbane or HVAC contractor.

But, if the HVAc system needs further upgrading (or is damaged already) perhaps you should consider replacing it with a new unit!

I hope these energy-efficiency tips would help to keep your homes safe and comfortable. And, I hope they keep you and your family safe and secure too!