How to save big money on electricity?
Are you spending too much on your electricity? You aren’t alone. Post-pandemic, there is a rise in electricity consumption, leading to higher electricity bills for consumers. Working from home makes it difficult to cut down on electricity consumption. But by following a few simple tips, you save money on your monthly electricity bill. Read to find out different ways to save money on your energy bills.
Which devices use more energy?
To know where to cut down on energy usage, you need to know which devices use more electricity.
- Household appliances: Washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators use a lot of energy. They account for 30-40% of the energy usage in your home. Remember that every time you wash clothes or dishes, you feed these energy-hungry household devices that contribute a major portion of your electricity bill.
- Consumer appliances: In this era of digitalization, smartphones, smart TVs, laptops, and gaming appliances have become a part of our everyday life. All these account for almost 10% of the energy usage at home. It’s difficult to exclude them from our lifestyle.
- Lighting: You must’ve often heard that the lighting in the room is very important as it changes how the room looks. Lighting is also important to set a certain ambiance. No wonder all homes have strip, fancy, and regular lights used for different occasions. But all the lighting at home takes up 5-10% of the energy usage.
- Cooking appliances: Your cooking habits might also cause your increased electricity bill. Oven, microwave, kettle, induction stove, and air fryer all increase your energy usage. Currently, cooking appliances account for 5% of energy usage.
What factors increase your electric bill the most?
Despite having all electric appliances, some keep their electricity bill under check, while others see their electricity bills skyrocketing. Here’s why.
Increasing electricity rates
Increasing electricity rates can be the primary reason why your electricity bill is going up. With more demand for energy, the rates have increased. The rising cost of coal, oil and gas, and other energy sources contribute to a high electricity bill.
Devices using phantom energy
Your television, smart speaker, air conditioner, kitchen appliances or smartphone all draw some energy all the time despite being switched off. Though this is not a major contributor to a high electricity bill, it adds up over time.
Using more energy-consuming devices
Using your washing machine, dryer, microwave, and oven too often a week can increase your energy usage. All these devices take up a lot of energy and hence are a major contributor to your electricity bill.
Old and inefficient appliances
The old TV or oven you have at home might be working just fine. But it can be a major reason for your increased electricity bill. This is because these devices use more energy than the newer models. The new models are designed to be more energy efficient than the old ones.
Leaving lights on
The lights that you forget to switch off while leaving the room, or use to decorate your home at night while you are fast asleep, can be why your energy usage is more. Lights, especially incandescent light bulbs, burn more energy than LED lights or tube lights.
Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can also be the reason why your electricity bill is going up. Staying all the time indoors and not having a social life will increase your energy usage. Alternatively, having an active social life and hosting too many parties can also increase your electricity bill.
Using more devices
Your mobile phones, laptops, gaming consoles, electric razors, trimmers, speakers, and tablets all use energy. The greater the number of devices, the higher your energy usage and hence the higher the electricity bill.
External factors
Extreme climate conditions, government regulations, or a rise in the cost of raw materials to produce electricity all these factors, though out of our control, will lead to a high electricity bill.
Tips to lower your electricity bill
Now that you know what can be the probable reasons for your high electricity bill, you can take steps to reduce it. Following are a few tips to help you lower your bill from next month.
Switch off electronic devices
This might sound very much like your parents, but switch off the lights, fans, and electronic devices when you are done using them. Don’t keep them turned on, as they consume a lot of energy. Switching the appliances off when you are not using them can save a lot of energy.
Unplug devices
Unplug your smartphone chargers, laptop chargers, ACs, and TVs when not in use. This reduces the use of phantom energy and, ultimately, your energy usage as well.
Upgrade your old appliances
Upgrade your old blubs, tube lights, fans, refrigerators, and microwaves to the latest models. Make sure you check the energy rating and pick only the ones with a 5-star rating. This will help reduce a lot of your energy usage as all these devices are energy-hogging devices.
Use less of energy consuming appliances
Use less energy-consuming devices such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. Instead of washing clothes three times a week, reduce it to two. Prefer air drying your clothes and dishes instead of using an electronic appliance. Reheat your food in a microwave instead of the oven. By taking such small care in using electronic devices, you can reduce a lot of energy consumption.
Use energy-consuming devices effectively
Using fewer electronic devices will definitely reduce your energy consumption, but using them effectively can help lower your electricity bill. For example, load your washing machine to capacity instead of washing only a few clothes at a time. Set your AC at 24 degrees for optimum cooling, and clean the filter regularly. Taking such small steps for all your devices will help you reduce your energy consumption and, thus, your energy bill.
Use less energy during peak hours
The electricity you use is charged based on peak and off-peak hours. In India, 6:30 am to 10:30 am and 6 pm to 10 pm are considered peak hours. The rate for peak hours is 25-30% higher. Hence don’t use heavy electrical appliances during this time to reduce your electricity bill.
Switch to renewable energy
Switch to solar heaters and install solar panels at home to run your appliances. This will help you save big time on your electricity costs. Moreover, it is also a clean energy source as it has no carbon emissions. Hence, by using renewable energy, you are saving on electricity costs and protecting the planet you stay in.
How can I save electricity by opting for ‘green’ alternatives?
The electricity we get is majorly derived from thermal sources such as coal. Generating electricity from coal is limited as it is a non-renewable source, damaging our environment. With more awareness about the harmful effects of coal, people are shifting towards cleaner and green alternatives such as solar, wind, and hydropower.
Installing a wind and hydropower plant at home is not possible. But India has abundant sunlight, and you can easily derive your energy needs by installing solar panels on our rooftops. This can reduce your electricity bill by almost 90%.
Installing solar panels at home can be slightly costly, but this is nothing compared to the lifetime savings you will generate by generating free electricity. Moreover, the costs of solar panels have decreased drastically in the last decade. It is expected to come down further in the near future.
How to save electricity based on different electrical appliances?
Different appliances in your home consume different amounts of electricity. Using them effectively and efficiently can help you save electricity. Here’s how you can use the different appliances at your home and reduce your energy consumption.
Lighting
Tube lights and bulbs are present at every corner of our house. Though they look small, together, they consume an ample amount of electricity. Using them efficiently will help reduce your electricity bill.
- Switch off lights when not in use.
- Replace old bulbs with more efficient LED tube lights.
- Dust your tube lights regularly.
- Minimize the usage of lighting during the day and open curtains to get natural light.
- Use task lighting. For example, use a reading lamp when you are reading instead lighting the entire room with tube lights.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are energy-consuming devices that are switched on 24*7 to keep the food fresh. Here are a few tips to save electricity consumed by your refrigerators
- Set the thermostat to medium cooling.
- Don’t keep the door open for long.
- Let the dishes cool down completely before you keep them in the fridge.
- Make sure the door is sealed tightly.
- Defrost the refrigerator regularly.
Washing machines
Washing machines consume the highest electricity. But we cannot avoid using washing machines as they have become a part of our daily routine. Below are a few tips that will help in conserving the electricity consumed by washing machines
- Don’t use washing machines in peak hours.
- Run washing machines in the shortest cycles.
- Avoid washing clothes in hot water.
- Wash clothes with full loads.
- Prefer air-drying clothes instead of electric dryers.
Air conditioners
It is difficult to imagine a life without ACs in a hot country like India, especially during the summers. But despite using ACs, you can save on your electricity bill. Here’s how.
- Set the temperature to 24 degrees at all times.
- Clean the AC filter regularly.
- Ensure the doors and windows are closed when the AC is switched on.
- A roof garden can reduce the load on air conditioners.
Consumer appliances
Televisions, laptops, and desktops are widely used in our homes. Unknowingly we end up using a lot of electricity for these devices. Here’s how you could save electricity on these devices.
- Turn off your TV, computer and laptop when not in use.
- Unplug the cord after turning the devices off as they draw power, even when plugged in.
- Limit the number of TVs or laptops in your home. Have only one TV in the living room instead of having one in each bedroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will unplugging my devices save electricity?
Yes, unplugging devices after turning them off can help reduce your energy consumption and electricity bill. This is because devices such as TVs and your laptop chargers pull power even after they are switched off. Though you won’t save much every month, it adds up in the long term.
What appliance uses the most electric power in a home?
Washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and air conditioners are energy-hogging devices and use a lot of energy.
Do our phone chargers consume electricity when not in use?
Yes, phone chargers consume electricity when plugged in and are not in use. A non-genuine and cheap charger consumes more energy than a genuine one. According to a research study, a genuine company charger consumes 135 watts per month, which is 1.5 kilowatts per annum.
Does TV use electricity when off?
Yes, smart TVs use electricity when turned off. Hence, switch off the device and, if possible, unplug the cord to save electricity.
