7 Best Tips to Save Electricity This Winter

Winter is coming. The biting cold will force you to stay a lot indoors. For three whole months, this is a trying time for your appliances and your patience – once you see the winter electricity bill. 

Saving electricity may seem like the cliché you hear all the time from just about anywhere. But the campaign for saving energy is there for many reasons – nonrenewable sources of energy are drying up. 

Worse, using these types of energy can make you ill. But how do you go about saving energy correctly? Here are 7 of the best tips to save electricity and therefore save money during winter. 

Inspect your home

To save electricity, inspect your home. Any gap should be covered. This includes windows, doors, or even on the walls. This is not only to prevent the cold from getting in but also to prevent the heat from coming out.  

You should open your curtains or blinds, on the one hand, when the sun is out. Sunlight coming in your windows may help heat your home. On the other hand, close your curtains when there is no sun. This may help retain heat. Its always good to have External roller shutters to feel safe and save the energy for heating.

Switch to energy-saving appliances

Do you know that if you switch your five commonly used bulbs to LED lights, you can save 75 USD on average per year? Think about it. If you regularly use 30 views in your home, that’s around 450 USD in savings! More so, LED bulbs may last a lifetime. This drastically reduces your carbon footprint by 6 tons a year. That’s what scientists call revolutionary.

Some electric fans may move warm air around the room. If you reverse the spin of the blades, you can improve warm air circulation from the ceiling and throughout the room. 

Keep your appliances efficient

Let’s start with electrical cords. Cord protectors are ill-advised because it may lead to overheating. Overheating may cause your appliances to run less efficiently. Worse, it can ruin your appliances.

Using your traditional fireplace with chimneys maybe your idea of a fun and romantic date during winter, but there is nothing romantic when you realize that around 50% of heat is wasted up the chimney. Being very chilly indoors during winter is not fun at all. A gas fireplace is recommended instead.

Set your appliances at just the right temperature

Make use of your appliance manuals. For refrigerators, check which temperature is optimal. If there is no advice for the right range, you can set the dials at midrange first and record the temperature. After 24 hours, adjust the setting by small increments. You know you are at the right temperature when your refrigerator door is open all the way and cold air breezes from the vent.

While it may be tempting to wash your clothes at the highest maximum temperature, it is recommended to wash your clothes at 30 degrees Celsius during winter. Besides, make sure that your machine is fully loaded to save on not only energy but time and effort as well. 

When not in use, put your computer on Sleep Mode

Did you know that setting up your computer to sleep when no activity is detected for some time can save energy as much as unplugging it? Similarly, turn off appliances that are not in use. You may be surprised to learn that you can save, on average, 100 USD a year for just unplugging your appliances.  

Avoid consuming electricity during peak hours

There is such a thing as peak hours of electricity. Some energy companies define peak hours at around 6 AM to 10 AM and around 3 PM to 9 PM. That is why it is also important that you study how to compare energy rates to different energy providers. You can save 30 to 60 percent of energy when you run your appliances during non-peak hours. More so, the incidence of glitches in electricity may be less during hours of less use. Maybe you can do all your vacuuming and cooking during non-peak hours.

Heat only rooms that you use

With a larger room, it would require more energy to heat it. Consequently, the smaller room requires smaller energy. During the winter, why not share the same workspace with a family member or a housemate? Space heaters are called such for a reason because they heat all the space in the room.

These may seem overwhelming for many, but just like what Naval Admiral William McRaven advised – once you accomplish one small task, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and happiness. These low elated feelings will encourage you to do more and more. Before you know it, you are not only saving the environment but also helping others to do the same. Not your style? Just think about what you would want to buy with the money you save.

Sharing is caring!