Here’s how to save electricity at home. The 10 simplest and most effective tricks to cut consumption and lower the cost of your bill quickly.
Often, when you think about saving strategies, you are afraid of having to overturn your habits just to put something aside. In reality, it is not necessary to make "revolutions", but it is sufficient to implement small changes in a constant manner.
So, don’t worry. The 10 tips that follow are small daily tricks that, without major upheavals, can make the difference in safeguarding the environment and... your electricity bill.
1) Turn off lights and electronic devices completely
One of the simplest, but also most effective, tips is to get into the habit of turning off lights and unplugging devices that are not in use. In fact, many appliances continue to consume energy even when they appear to be off, as in the case of chargers left in sockets.
These “invisible consumptions” are known as stand-by or “silent consumptions” and are nothing more than useless costs on your electricity bill.
Therefore, turning off everything that is not really needed is the first step to being able to save electricity.
2) Use low-consumption light bulbs
Saving money basically means paying attention to every detail. This is because even the least significant measure could make all the difference in the world, especially over time.
In this case, an essential measure consists in the use of low-consumption light bulbs. Assuming the fixed use of a 12w LED light bulb, its annual consumption will be around 35 kW/h, a figure that is often prohibitive.
Accordingly, choosing a slightly less powerful light bulb (10w) and turned on 24 hours a day will cost around 4 euro cents. This means that, keeping it on for an entire month, it will cost only 1 euro per month.
Not to mention that, for obvious reasons, there will be no need for your home to remain lit by light bulbs for every hour of the day. Therefore, following the advice seen previously, the savings will be double.
3) Choose highly energy-efficient appliances
When it comes to saving electricity, the energy class of appliances is a decisive factor to say the least.
In fact, choosing class A or higher appliances can significantly reduce consumption, especially in the case of devices used every day and for a long time such as refrigerators, air conditioners or washing machines.
The initial investment may seem higher, but the long-term benefits (especially in terms of saving on bills) are much more significant.
The choice of appliances, therefore, is a classic case of so-called “smart spending” which, over time, pays for itself.
4) Close doors and windows
Logically managing the spaces of the house is very useful for optimising consumption, especially during the hottest or coldest months of the year.
For example, in summer, keeping the shutters down in empty rooms and taking advantage of natural ventilation helps to maintain a more stable temperature without using the air conditioner (or to significantly reduce its use).
Similarly, during the winter, taking advantage of daylight (keeping the windows tightly closed) can significantly reduce the need to turn on the heating.
5) Making the most of natural light
A simple and effective method to save electricity at home is to make the most of sunlight.
After all, in the last few days, with the return of daylight saving time, the days have been increasingly longer and brighter. This event therefore represents the perfect opportunity to turn off the switches and use natural light which, as is well known, has particularly beneficial properties.
A smart strategy would also be to adapt our habits and daily routine to this change, taking as many advantages as possible.
For example, if you are lucky enough to be able to choose smart working, you can move to an area of the house where the lighting is constant at any time of day. Otherwise, you can "attract" the light with light paint and some mirrors, thus improving the natural lighting inside the rooms without too many additional costs.
6) Pay attention to the times in which you consume energy
One of the tricks that allow you to save electricity certainly includes the time slot. It is well known, in fact, that depending on the time, your electronic devices usually consume much more electricity.
It is no coincidence that many families find themselves using the washing machine and dryer during the night or evening hours. Even during the weekends you can pay less for the energy you consume.
This is an advantage given that many people during the weekend are not at home, thus giving the green light to those who, for one reason or another, will remain in their apartment.
7) Position the oven far from the refrigerator
Although it may seem like a small detail, in reality doing so will save you a lot of money. And, above all, you will consume as little electricity as possible.
It is estimated, in fact, that between the two electronic devices mentioned there should be at least 50 centimeters of distance. This is because, corresponding to two diametrically opposed functions, they could interfere with each other.
Alternatively, if you have the possibility, this distance can be further bridged with insulating material. By doing so, the heat of the oven during its operation will not affect the low temperatures of your refrigerator.
8) Limit the use of the iron
In addition to being an activity known for not being particularly exciting, ironing your clothes could expose you to a significant consumption of electricity.
Limiting the use of the iron is therefore a choice perfectly in line with what you want to achieve. Since it is an appliance capable of increasing your consumption significantly, it will be necessary to reduce its use only to what is strictly necessary.
Considering a power of about 2,400 Watts, in an hour of ironing your clothes you will spend more or less 50 cents. This figure, depending on the mode, can however be reduced. In any case, it is better to choose clothes that do not need to be ironed often, especially during the summer season.
9) Beware of the air conditioner
Among the most "frequent" electronic devices inside a house or apartment, the air conditioner is without a doubt one of the most common constants. This is also thanks to bonuses and incentives issued by the government, which have, in some way, also helped less well-off consumers.
Especially in summer - but also in winter, as an alternative to home radiators - a powerful and high-performance air conditioner can definitely make a difference. However, it can also determine significant costs.
The best thing to do to avoid this situation is to use the dehumidifier function. By doing so, the humidity present in the environment will disappear, favoring a cooler and drier climate.
10) Always keep the maintenance of the systems updated
Remember that an efficient electrical system is the basis of balanced energy consumption. Often, small malfunctions or power leaks can go unnoticed, with a big impact on consumption.
To save electricity on a constant basis, it is therefore useful to carry out periodic checks on the domestic system, especially if it is a little dated. Regular cleaning of the filters of air conditioners, boilers and heat pumps can also improve their performance and reduce waste.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Come risparmiare energia elettrica? 10 trucchi per la casa
