7 Ways To Save Electricity During Summer
If you’re like most of us, the glorious season of summer also happens to coincide with a less glorious increase in your utility bills. Rising temperatures lead to electricals such as fans and air conditioners being used more often than in the cooler months. Other utilities such as lights are also often turned on for longer during the summer period when people choose to keep their blinds down to prevent heat from entering their homes.
Unfortunately, all this can lead to electricity bills that can soar through the roof in a very short period of time. Thankfully, there are many ways that one can save energy in Summer and today we look at 7 simple steps you can take to cut down on electricity usage in your home. Read on to find out more!
Switch To Solar
More and more people are switching to solar power in 2020 due to solar rebates that the government offers. In a nutshell, solar power harnesses the natural energy from sunlight and converts it into electricity to power your home. Switching to solar can lead to electricity bills being reduced by up to 40% and thus saving you thousands of dollars over the years. Switching to solar power is one of the best ways to ensure that you keep your electricity bills down in warmer months without having to sit through the sweltering heat in order to save power.
Control Sunlight In The Home
One of the downsides of summer is that prolonged sunlight also leads to homes reaching uncomfortable temperatures that are only remedied by turning on fans and air conditioning units. A great way to counteract this is to block sunlight from entering your home via your windows. Perfect options for the job include blockout blinds or curtains that prevent strong rays of sunlight and hot air from entering your home. This will help keep your home cooler during the summer months without having to turn your air conditioning on 24/7.
Welcome to The World of Houseplants
Did you know that aside from making your home look fresh and inviting, house plants also serve a more practical purpose? Indoor plants are a great way to cool your home during the summer months because they lose water during the process of transpiration. This in turn helps to cool down the air around your plants, leaving it purified and keeping it at a comfortably cool temperature all day long. If you only have space for one indoor plant, we highly recommend opting for aloe vera due to its wonderful cooling properties.
Clean Your AC Unit
Over the years, lots of grime, dust and dirt can accumulate in your air conditioning unit. A clogged AC filter results in up to 15% more power being needed to power your unit. The simple solution is to give your AC filters a regular cleaning at least 3-4 times a year in order to prevent dust build-up. You can even replace worn out or old filters for a small cost which will significantly bring down your power bills over time.
Pay Attention To Your Pool Pump
Nothing feels better than splashing around in the water during the summer months. Unfortunately, this can also lead to a surge in your power bills thanks to your pool pump. The larger your pool pump, the higher the cost, which is why we recommend switching to a small but energy-efficient pool pump instead. You can also reduce your filtration time from 24 to 6 hours a day and keep your pool clean without breaking the bank.
Choose LED Lighting
The truth is, if you need to use more lights in summer, chances are there is no way out of doing so. So, what’s the next best option? LED lighting of course! When comparing the energy efficiency of different LED bulbs lookout for the term ‘luminous efficacy’. This is a term used to describe the amount of light emitted per unit of power consumed by your bulb. In comparison to other types of bulbs, LED consumes very modest amounts of power, with their installation resulting in a 60-75% improvement in the energy efficiency of your home’s lighting set up.
Lower Water Heating Costs
Did you know that water heating accounts for around 18% of the energy consumed in most homes? Simply lowering the temperature of your water heater is a great way to save energy especially in the summer months. You can even take it one step further by being more efficient with your laundry process. Make sure to maximise your loads, use cold water and air dry your laundry under the sun as much as possible! You’ll be amazed at how much these small changes make to your overall electricity bill.
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Keeping energy costs down during summer doesn’t mean that you have to suffer the sweltering heat. By conducting a home energy audit with All Electrics or switching to solar panels, you can keep cool and comfortable without burning a hole in your wallet. Contact us today for more information on how you can create a more energy-efficient household in the Summer months!