20 Ways To Save Energy At Home: Quick Energy Saving Tips That Save Money

With energy costs on the rise, it’s more important than ever to look into things you can do around the home that will reduce your energy usage and your energy bills! We’ve put together some practical ways to save energy at home. 

Saving energy is not just about saving money on your utility bill – you’re also doing your part for the environment! Being energy efficient is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.

What is a Carbon Footprint? A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.

Ways To Reduce Energy Usage In The Bathroom

Some of us love to spend time in the bathroom! Here are a couple of ideas to help you save hot water and energy:

Limit Shower Time: Shorter showers reduce water heating costs.

Turn off Appliances: Turn off your appliances at the switch

Low-Flow Showerheads: Using water-efficient showerheads will reduce your water usage. This flow-on effect (see what I did there?) also saves power on water heating.

Did you know? A 5-minute shower with an old shower head uses around 100 litres of water. Changing to a new shower head reduces this to around 50 litres – that’s half as much water and power.

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Energy Saving Tips For The Kitchen

If the kitchen is the ‘heart of the home’, then it’s probably a place where you might need to work on your energy efficiency. Here are some quick tips that might save electricity:

Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: When replacing appliances, opt for those with an Energy Star label. The higher the energy rating, the better that appliance uses energy.

Cook Efficiently: Use lids on pots and cook with the right size burner will work wonders for your energy savings. Consider using a microwave or slow cooker instead of the oven. It’s also a good idea to use your microwave to thaw food before cooking.

Dishwasher: Use your dishwasher on the economy setting and only when full – if you only have a few dishes, a quick hand wash will save water and energy.

Reduce Your Energy Use In the Laundry

Many Australian families use their washing machines at least once each day. Considering they use water and power, monitoring how you use yours can reduce energy consumption:

Wash Clothes in Cold Water: About 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating water. Front loading machines use around 50 litres per wash and top loaders use about 150 litres – imagine how much water and energy you save!

Air Dry Clothes: Whenever possible, hang your clothes on a clothes line to dry instead of using a dryer.

Washing Machine: Only use it when you have a full load. A smaller load will use the same amount of water – and your clothes won’t be any cleaner!

Around The Home

Make your home a ‘smart home’ and look at the ways that you and your family can save energy and money throughout your home:

Switch to LED Lighting: LED bulbs use significantly less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

Unplug Devices: Unplug chargers, appliances, and electronics when not in use to prevent phantom energy consumption. TVs and game consoles still consume energy even when they’re on standby.

Use Smart Power Strips: These can automatically cut power to devices that are in standby mode making them great for phones and game consoles.

Seal Leaks: Ensure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent drafts and heat loss.

Turn Off Lights: Encourage everyone to turn off lights when leaving a room. If you’re watching TV, you might even consider turning off the lights if they’re not needed – it’s an easy way to save power and give your living room more of a cinema feel!

Utilize Natural Light: Open blinds and curtains during the day to make use of natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Seal Ducts: Make sure the ducts in your home are properly sealed to avoid air leakage and energy waste.

Photo: Your heating and cooling system uses the most energy in your home

Save Energy on Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling systems use a lot of the power the average family uses each year. If you can make some changes here, you’re well on your way to lowering your home energy usage. Here are some ways to lower the energy consumed:

Regular HVAC Maintenance: Clean or replace filters and maintain your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to ensure its efficiency. Having an efficient system means it will use less energy to heat and cool your living spaces.

Use Ceiling Fans Wisely: Use fans to create a breeze in summer. In winter, reverse the direction to circulate warm air. Ceiling fans are one of the best home improvements you can make to save energy.

Adjust Thermostat Settings: Lower your thermostat in winter and raise it in summer to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Being Energy Efficient Outside

It’s not only inside the home where we can save. Here are some energy-saving tips that will reduce your energy bills:

Plant Trees and Shrubs: Think ahead when you do your landscaping. Planting trees that will grow and provide shade during the warmer months and also block the wind in colder months.

Invest in Solar Panels: If it within your budget, consider installing solar panels to generate renewable energy and lower your electricity bills. Solar providers can provide you with a free energy assessment. Solar energy systems are growing in popularity as a renewable energy source for energy-conscious Australians.

Outdoor Lighting: Look at outdoor solar lights for garden and outside areas

Insulate Your Home: Proper insulation keeps your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling.

Summary of 20 Ways To Save Energy At Home

We try to save energy for one of two reasons – to save money or because we care about the environment and want to lower our footprint. Whatever your reason, the most important thing is to make a conscious effort to change how we think about how we use energy. 

You don’t have to do everything I’ve listed here. As with anything involving change – try to change a few things, get used to it and make it a habit. When it becomes a habit, you won’t even need to think about it any longer. At this stage, change a few more things, and so on.

It’s not hard to change your energy habits and it’s certainly possible to lower your energy bills. Making a decision to change is the first step.

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