8 easy energy-saving tips that you can start today

Energy saving is a simple measure to reduce your carbon footprint and saves you money too; win-win! You can also start doing it right now! Try the following tips to reduce your environmental impact today.

1. Watch out for energy vampires

A lot of people are surprised to learn that appliances continue to use power just being plugged in.  Yep, they’re always sucking power even when they’re on standby mode (hence the cute nickname!). Large appliances like TVs and computers are the biggest culprits, but even smaller items like phone chargers and laptop chargers can have an impact. Escaping the vampires is simple – turn off appliances at the powerpoint when not in use.

Consider a smart power board to reduce power usage when the appliance is on standby. Smart strips such as this one even allow you to turn your appliances on and off remotely – clever.

For other simple ideas for a greener home, see our post here.

Aircon - can or cannot?

Photo by STEPHEN POORE on Unsplash

2.  Temperature check

Of course, whether you heat or cool will differ depending on where you live, but they can both significantly contribute to your power usage. The best approach is to only use sparingly (ideally, when absolutely necessary), and only cool or heat your place by just a few degrees. A good guideline is to cool to 25-26` C or heat to 18-20` C. This helps to ensure the optimal energy efficiency of your aircon unit.

In warmer climates, opt for fans for cooling as much as possible. Fans use around 1/10th of the power of an aircon! However much you use aircon at home, make sure to keep it serviced to ensure it’s not releasing pollutants into the environment. Here are some other great ways to get cool without aircon.

For those of you in cooler climates, consider these top tips to save energy and money.

Take a load off your washing machine

Photo by Tina Bosse on Unsplash

3. Take a load off your washing machine

Essential as washing machines are, we probably use them much more than we actually need to. Be mindful before you throw anything into the dirty clothes basket. It could save you a few cycles per week, and it all adds up. Avoid washing every day if you can, and only wash full loads.

Get to know your washing machine. The majority of default settings on your washing machine use a warm wash, but you can manually change to cold (look for the snowflake). Most washing powders work just as well in cold water as they do in warm. You can also opt for the energy-saving and short wash cycles.

4. Go natural for drying clothes

Clothes dryers chew up more energy than you’d expect, so avoid them as much as possible. Let your clothes dry naturally and only use a dryer as a last resort. If you live in a cold/wet climate, this is not always possible of course, but you can be conscious of when/how frequently you use it. Using a drying rack in a warm part of your home can also be an effective drying option. Even making a tweak (such as hanging letting your socks and smalls dry naturally) is worthwhile and can really make a difference.

The dishwasher debate

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

5. The dishwasher debate

For whatever reason, people are often divided about using the dishwasher.  Even with the energy expenditure, it’s a tick from us. Energy efficient dishwashers use less water than hand-washing (not to mention time and effort saved!)

The amount of power used by a dishwasher is relatively small compared to other appliances in the home. But do be aware to only run it on a full load, and make sure to use the eco setting if it has one.

6. Don’t get into hot water

If you have an on-demand hot water service (like we do here in Singapore), you need to know that it is a huge power drainer. In fact, it’s one of the most power-hungry appliances in the home.  Make sure to turn off when not needed.  To ensure hot water, flick it on 10 minutes before your shower, and it will be good to go.  This little change could save you hundreds on your bill across the course of a year!

7. Lighten up

Remember your parents always telling you to turn the light off when you left a room? Turns out they had a point. Lights are not a huge contributor to energy usage for an individual household, when you consider a yearly power bill. But considering millions of households, it really adds up. Make it a habit to turn off lights when you leave the room, even turn it into a competition with your family (I know who’d win that game at our place!). You can also opt for energy saving light bulbs in frequently used lamps or light fixtures.

Have you made the switch?

By enriquelopezgarre--3764790 from Pixabay via Canva

8. Go green!

Overall, the way to make the most impact is making the switch to green energy. And it’s not as difficult as you think! The term “green” indicates that the energy is produced from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. This means that the days of relying on burning fossil fuels (ie, oil and gas) to generate power are well and truly behind us. More green energy equals less carbon emissions contributing to climate change. If you haven’t made the swap yet, now is the time!

If it’s been on your mind to make the change but it’s fallen into the too hard basket, it’s high time to reassess. Now with consumers able to choose their energy provider (in most markets), companies are making it a very simple and straightforward process. In fact, they do most of the leg work for you! More on switching to renewables here.

It bears saying that making the switch doesn’t give you a leave pass for using all the energy you want. But it does give you peace of mind that you’re doing the right thing for the planet - and you might even save money (we did!).

For those based in Singapore, this article gave us a great starting point for green energy plans.

Every small change counts

While these individual changes are small, they have a big impact when you add them up. Reducing energy in your home creates positive change for the planet - and your wallet. It is definitely worth taking the time to make these simple changes.

What’s your favourite energy saving tip? We’d love to hear. Share it in the comments below.

You don’t have to wait a single moment to start these tips. All you need to do is decide which to try first!