How To Save On Electricity Costs This Winter 2022

How To Save On Electricity Costs This Winter

Australian winters get chilly, with temperatures dropping as low as 5 degrees Celsius. Some frosty nights are also expected in some areas, with June and July being the coldest months of the season.

While Aussies are seemingly warming up to winter, the additional expenses during these months are something most can do without.

One area where this is evident is in electricity prices.

Why Is Your Electricity Bill Higher During Winter?

Several reasons.

The first is that you are likely to be home more during the cold months. You can’t hit the beach, and it might be raining, so most outdoor activities aren’t that much fun. Similarly, days are shorter, and nights are long and dark. Being home more naturally increases your energy usage and subsequently, your energy bill.

The second is that heating your home during winter consumes more energy than it does, say, in the autumn. Think centralised heating, hot showers, room heaters, electric blankets and so on. These are partly to blame for increasing electricity prices in winter.

How To Save On Electricity Costs This Winter

It's essential to minimise your energy usage during winter. This lowers your bill and your carbon footprint as well. So how do you go about this?

Here are some suggestions.

1. Weatherstrip Windows and Doors

If your home lets in cold air and allows heated air to escape, you are practically paying to heat your home and the street.

Sealing out droughts is an excellent place to start reducing your energy costs as this seals your doors and windows, helping contain heated air indoors. This process is known as weather stripping.

You can also use door sweeps and drought stoppers to seal the spaces between your door and its frame.

2. Get A Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats can lower your energy bill without sacrificing comfort.

This is because high-tech thermostats are highly programmable and allow you to fine-tune when your furnace runs and how.

For example, you can use lower settings when asleep or turn it off when no one is home. You can also have it begin to warm the house right before you get back home.

3. Take Care Of Your Heating System

Your heating system works as well as the condition it's in. If it's too old or run-down, it will need to work harder to cool your house. Such inadequacies push your energy costs up.

One thing you can do to ensure the system is in tip-top shape is to have your heating unit checked by a professional technician right before winter. This will flag any problem areas and give you time to make repairs or replacements.

These checks ensure your system is clean and runs efficiently. A clean unit that runs efficiently uses much less energy because it doesn't need to over-exert itself to get the job done.

4. Assess Your Insulation

Having good insulation is an inexpensive way to keep your electricity bill low during winter. An optimal area to have this done is in your attic, as this ensures proper heating in the living areas.

Another area that lets out a lot of heat is your walls. This is more so around electrical outlets and other areas where utilities enter your home.

Another thing to consider is pipe insulation. Water pipes that ferry water to faucets, appliances and showers can bleed energy. The same applies to water heaters. Insulating your hot water pipes can increase the water temperature by 2-4 Degrees.

Aside from supplying you with hot water, insulated pipes also ensure you do not have to run water for too long, waiting for it to heat up adequately. This can save you some dollars.

5. Replace CFL and Incandescent Bulbs With Led Bulbs

This tip will help save energy in your home year-round, not just in winter. While the cost savings might seem small, keep in mind that every little bit counts and the amounts add up over the months and years.

Light-emitting diodes are among the most money-saving lighting elements we have today. This is true for two reasons. The first is that these bulbs will last 25 times longer, meaning you replace them with much less frequency.

The second is that they use 75% less energy than regular bulbs. Anything that uses less energy knocks off some dollars in your electricity bill.

6. Make Your House Warmer

Technology has made it such that the first thing we think about when it gets cold is cranking up the thermostat. This is fast and effective, but there are just as effective and more affordable ways to go about it.

Experts suggest lowering your thermostat settings by a few degrees during the day, then going even lower at night. For example, turning your thermostat down 7-10 áµ’F for 8 hours a day can knock off 10% off your heating bill.

This does not necessarily mean you will be freezing it out in your home.

Dressing in warm, soft, fleecy sweaters and socks can keep the chill away. Floors are often cold in winter, so investing in good, fuzzy area rugs with rug pads is a quick way to add a layer of insulation between the cold floor and your feet.

7. Be More Discerning With Your Electricity Usage

Aside from heating, there are several other things you can do to minimise your energy usage.

Some practical ones include:

  • Only run your washer when it's fully-loaded
  • Turn holiday lights off (there are timers to ensure you do not forget)
  • Unplug unused electronics. May electronic still draw energy even when off, as long as they are plugged in
  • Close doors to unused rooms in the house
  • Stock up on warm blankets, socks and hot water bottles. These allow for lower thermostat settings

Not Saving Much?

Our qualified, highly-skilled electricians can do an energy usage assessment in your home and advise how to lower your usage and associated costs.

If all your energy-saving efforts don't seem to be cutting down your electricity bill, call us at M1&Co and let us help you get back in control.