Conserve Energy and Water: Save the Earth and Some Cash
Utility costs are continually getting higher every year, but there are measures you can take that can reduce your consumption and lower your utility bills.
Insulate Your Home
Most of your home’s heat loss or heat transfer can be addressed with proper insulation. Proper insulation can cut your heating or electricity bill by up to 30 percent. Insulation on your ceiling can prevent heat-loss during winters, and heat-transfer during summer. It regulates the temperature in your house and protects it and its inhabitants from extreme temperatures outside. An insulated house will put less stress on your ducted heating and air conditioning systems. Check for leaks and damage in your air ducts and get the necessary supply to fix them.
Increase Your House’s Electrical Efficiency
If you’ve been living in your house for more than a decade, it’s time to change the wiring. Modern wiring is more efficient and less prone to heating. Practical and safe wiring is essential for dedicated circuits like the ones for your refrigerators, stoves, washers and, dryers. If it’s not the wiring, then it might be your appliances. Older appliances are not as energy-efficient as newer models, especially ones using the latest inverter technology. Switching to Newer models of refrigerators and air conditioning units that use inverter technology can reduce your electrical consumption and cut your power bill another 30 percent.
Manage Your Water Consumption
Municipal water bills can shoot through the roof, especially during summer. Restrictions and conservation methods start rolling in, and penalties can get expensive. Manage your water consumption by practicing simple common sense. Don’t spend more than 15 minutes in the shower, and don’t leave the tap on if you’re not using it. Use the dishwasher; it’s more efficient than manually washing the dishes and consumes a fifth of the water. For more significant savings, install a greywater system for your showers and washers. It would cost around A$3,000, but you can opt for a simpler diversion system that only costs A$700.
Get Some Help from the Sun
If Australia has an excess of something, it’s sunlight. Make the sun work for you with solar panels that produce electricity. The average Australian household typically consumes 40kWh worth of electricity per day (most of it from heating and cooling), costing a total of around A$270 a month. An 8-kW solar power system can produce enough power to cover 75-100 percent of your home’s energy use, cutting your electricity bill by at least 75 percent or A$200. 8-kW systems can cost less than A$20,000 (which can get rebates depending on where you’re located). At a 6 percent green financing plan, you’ll only be paying a little bit more than A$200 a month, which is close to what you’re saving with the solar panels. After 10 years, the panels will be paid for, and you’ll be saving a$200 a month on your electricity bills for the next 15-25 years.
Saving the planet might not be everyone’s immediate concern, but saving money is. Take measures to reduce your electricity and water consumption and save the Earth while saving money. Cut your electricity, heating, and water bills with measures that can reduce your consumption and lower your utility bills.