How To Save Electricity During Winter
Whether you’re looking to save on utilities or looking to minimise your household’s carbon footprint, there is a myriad of valuable reasons to start prioritising cutting back on your home’s energy uses during the cooler months. Saving electricity in winter, however, may not come as naturally as saving electricity during summer, simply because it can be a little trickier to keep a house warm naturally, but it’s certainly not impossible!
At All Electrics, our team of experienced electricians is dedicated to teaching our customers how to optimise their power usage, so we’ve put together some simple suggestions on how you can save electricity this winter.
1. Don’t touch that thermostat!
The first place most of us think to look when it comes to saving electricity in winter is simply lowering the thermostat. But is this actually an effective method for energy conservation? The answer is yes! Did you know that each additional degree on your thermostat can add anywhere between 5 to 10% on your household’s overall energy usage? As the numbers can really add up, your best course of action is to get into the habit of keeping your thermostat at a comfortable 18 to 20 degrees at all times.
2. Keep showers short
Long, hot showers can often be the number one culprit for monolithic energy usage in winter, especially in and around Melbourne, where the colder months can get surprisingly vicious. What you may find surprising is that hot water usage can make up around 21 to 25% of your household’s overall energy usage, so when finding methods for saving energy in winter, long and luxurious hot showers can actually set you on a slippery slope when it comes to energy consumption. Try to keep your showers at around four minutes to help you in consistently saving electricity in winter months.
3. Use draft stoppers
It’s common knowledge that heat can escape through the most minute cracks and openings during the winter months, so it’s recommended that you utilise draft stoppers to help keep contained rooms as warm as possible. Similarly, it’s worth getting into the habit of closing all your home’s doors in winter to support natural heat conservation, as well as switching off any lights in rooms that aren’t being used.
4. Keep windows covered
Uncovered windows can also help a lot of winter chill to creep into your home. You should absolutely invest in some energy-efficient window coverings like thicker, heavier curtains or drapes, and other highly flexible window coverings like window quilts or roller shades that enable you to have a little more control over light availability in your interior spaces. You should absolutely try to make the most out of natural light in the winter months, so flexible window coverings that still aid in trapping heat can be a fantastic asset to any household that’s looking to conserve energy in winter.
5. Use energy-efficient lighting
Window coverings aren’t the only feature of your home that can be selected based on energy efficiency. Your household should also consider swapping out any outdated bulbs, fixtures, and appliances for more modern, energy-efficient lighting and appliances. Generally, LED globes are considered to be the most energy-efficient when it comes to household lighting, so they’re always a safe bet. Due to their compact design, LED lights also tend to be highly versatile and can be available in an array of different styles that include smart lighting, so you’re guaranteed to find some lighting that works for you and your family.
6. Use blankets and heat packs
It seems a bit cliche to say that the best way to save electricity in winter is simply by dressing for the season, but in actuality, this age-old tip is so popular because of its elegant simplicity. Let yourself be wrapped up in an endless array of woolly jumpers and blankets, grab yourself a gently steaming cup of tea, and plant a cat, hot water bottle, heat pack, or all of the above on your lap!
7. Update your insulation
If you’d like to go above and beyond with ensuring that your home is ready for the oncoming winter season, you can absolutely revisit your home’s insulation to see if there may be any room for improvement. Concrete insulation generally doesn’t contribute much to heat conservation in the home over their foam counterparts. Vj panels such as glass wool or wood cellulose insulation can also be a valuable addition to any household as they’re designed to retain any available heat, making them particularly valuable for naturally keeping your home warm in winter, as well as cooler in summer.
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Be sure to book an electrical safety inspection with the All Electrics team to ensure your home’s ready for Melbourne’s next cold snap!
If you had any further queries about saving electricity in winter, feel free to contact us or speak with one of our experienced electricians at 03 8719 8776.
