With increasing electricity costs in Australia, it is natural that your energy bill stresses you out. Well, we certainly can not control the hike in the prices but, we can reduce the price we pay. It is easier than you think. Here are 5 easy and beneficial steps that will help you save on your energy bills.

Maintaining your roof

When it comes to saving energy, the roof plays a very essential part. Yet it is often ignored. Maintaining your roof is a very underrated activity that can help you save a lot of money. If you manage your roof in the right way can save you up to 20% in your energy bill. Yes, you heard it right. Maintaining your roof can result in low cooling and heating costs.

The first thing to do is insulation. The layer of insulation helps in blocking and reducing the transfer of hot or cold air depending on the season. Melbourne can get hot in summer, so making a cool roof can be very crucial. You can do so by installing a radiant barrier that reflects the heat away. The other way to make a cool roof is by using the white shingles. It is the easiest way.  With insulation, it is also very crucial to leave some space for ventilation. The ventilation will maintain excellent airflow.

Regular cleaning, maintenance and updating aircon units

Aircon units have become a necessity of our daily life. There was a time when it was a luxury but not any more. It requires more attention to make sure that it will help you save some money. To maintain your aircon cleaning the filters is very essential when it comes to saving energy. Dust stuck in the filter can block the flow of cool air. So the air con has to work twice as hard to pump out cool air. This can cost you more money.

Cleaning and changing your filter regularly is the key here. It is very easy, and you can do it by yourself. The filter needs to be clean once every couple of months, or even once a month depending on the usage. If possible, get it checked by a professional every once in a while. This will help you understand when you need to replace the filters. Also, don’t forget to look out for the output of your aircon. Check if any exterior component or output requires cleaning and unclogging.

Use your electrical appliances wisely especially in the kitchen

Small changes and a little mindfulness on how we use our electrical appliances daily can be beneficial in saving on your energy bill. It is the easiest way to save energy. All you have to do is to keep an eye on the sockets on the wall. Then remember to unplug it from the wall whenever not in use. Most of our appliances, like computers, chargers, TV, are not in constant use. So turn it off from the wall whenever possible, especially at night. Keep in mind to switch off as many appliances as you can from the main power before you go to sleep to ensure maximum energy saving. If you can not switch it off then, put it on sleep or standby mode.

The other thing you can do is upgrading your powerboards. In the kitchen, thow the frozen food you want to cook beforehand. This will lead to reduced defrosting and cooking time. Cover the vessel, with a lid while cooking. Make sure your fridge closes properly and is set at the recommended temperature for freezer and freeze. Always choose Microwave over the oven whenever possible. Microwave consumes much less energy than ovens. Check appliances settings on machines like the dishwasher and select eco-friendly cycle.

Be mindful while doing your laundry

Washing and drying your clothes is a day to day chore that can not be compromised. But there are certainly some things you can do to make sure you save as much energy as possible. The first thing to do is to wait until you have a full load of clothes before you wash your clothes. Wait till your laundry basket is full enough that can come within the loading limit of your machine. This way, you can save both time and energy. The second thing is to washcloths with cold water. This is a quite simple but often ignored point. Choose an appropriate short cycle. Last but not least, don’t use the dryers unless you have to. Dry the clothes on a drying rack because dryer consumes a lot of energy.

Lights

Now, this is something we can not turn our backs to. But there are some ways we can make sure that we save some money on energy bills with these simple steps. Keep your curtains and windows open during the day. Use the natural lights whenever you can. Choose a corner of the house to work where you get a sufficient amount of light. Then be wise when it comes to choosing the kind of lights and bulbs you use in your house. Switch to LED bulbs. Not only they produce better light that is easy on the eyes, but they also use much less energy as compared to halogen bulbs. They also last longer and you don’t need to replace it very often. When you leave the room and washrooms, remember to switch off the lights. Make sure to check all the lights before going to work or going away.