Looking for Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill? Here’s how

Renewable energy sources in the world are quickly getting depleted.

10:57 29 July 2020

As this happens, humans have become more energy conscious, and everyone is trying to find new ways to deal with the issues revolving around energy. Over the years, experts in different fields are coming up with energy-conscious innovations, and the world is quickly embracing these new technologies. However, none of these technologies have been able to beat solar panels. The renewable energy bug has hit closer to home, and places like Brisbane are embracing this technology because of the Federal Government Rebates and the possibility of higher electricity costs in the future. Below, the article addresses how you can address the issue of electricity bills through solar panels and more.

 

Using Solar Panels to Curb a High Electricity Bill

 

Installing Solar Panels

Installing solar panels is one of the best energy-efficient home improvement projects you can ever undertake. While the upfront costs might be expensive, the benefits of installing solar panels will pay off when viewed from a broader perspective. You can cut the electricity bill by up to 50% in this way. 

 

In Australia, every one in four households has embraced the use of solar panels. The federal government is helping to push this trend through its Federal Government Solar Rebates to homeowners. In particular, Brisbane is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the government incentives and the slick design of the new-age solar panels. Many solar panel options offer unique benefits, making them a favorite for many in this area. The black solar panels are made of pure silicon oriented in a manner that creates a large silicon crystal. While these solar panels may be costly, they are still popular among Brisbane homeowners because of their efficiency, high quality, and less conspicuous look.

 

Up to 30% of homes in this area are covered by solar panels, making it a ripe ground to settle and reduce electric consumption. However, what makes the city even riper for this kind of technology is that the climate is conducive. The average summer temperature is 29°C. At the same time, the warmer winters are an average of 21.3° C. When it comes to installing solar panels Brisbane people have less to worry as professionals have made everything easy. Therefore, if you reside there, there shouldn’t be any excuse for why you shouldn’t install a panel on your roof. It is recommended that you install as many of these panels as your roof and budget can allow you to avoid future installation costs.

 

Many homes have a 6.6kW system that comes with 20x330W panels. This system, together with a 5Kw inverter allows you to produce more power under less light and claim 33% more rebate than the smaller 5KW system. 

 

Other Ways to Curb High Electricity Costs

 

An Energy Audit

 

Another way to reduce electricity consumption is by carrying out an energy audit. An energy audit, unlike your energy bill, is more specific on your energy usage, making it easier to understand how energy is used in your home. Thankfully, many utility companies conduct free home energy audits for their clients. If yours does not, you can carry out yours by following these steps:

 

• Establish your energy usage in kWh. The first step involves comparing your home’s usage to the usage of your location. If your daily usage is higher than the average by over 10 kWh, then it is clear that your home needs an audit.
  
  
• Identify energy-guzzling appliances. If you have a smart meter, figuring which appliances consume more energy is easy. If you do not have one, you can multiply the appliance’s wattage by the number of hours it is in use during the day and divide this figure by 1000. By doing this, you obtain the kWh. Multiply this by the rate per kWh as outlined in your bill. This step will help you see how much the appliance costs you per month. You can also check for individual appliances by turning off all of them except one and check to see how many revolutions the meter does in a minute when the particular one is in use. The faster and more revolutions made by the meter, the more energy consumed by the appliance.
  
  
• Upgrade highly consumptive appliances. Many appliances in the market are less wasteful when it comes to electricity. If you have an older model, it may be time to upgrade and save yourself the stress. It would be best if you also optimized your heating/cooling and lighting to help you curb the energy costs.

 

Monitor Your HVAC System

 

It would be beneficial to avoid cooling the home when you are not around to save on electricity costs. You can do this physically when you are just about to leave the house or invest in a programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat has numerous benefits, including making the home energy-efficient no matter the season. This means that you and your family will always be comfortable, and your wallet will feel better, too, with more coins in it. This thermostat can work to your advantage by easing up on energy usage according to your family’s routine

 

Lower the Water Heater Temperature

 

One of the most energy-consuming and costly appliances in the home is the water heater. The device distributes hot water to other appliances such as dishwashers and laundry machines and sinks and showers. If you have a hot water tank, there is a significant amount of energy used to maintain the water temperature before it is released. Lowering the water temperature can help you cut off some of the costs associated with heating water. Leave the water at approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit and turn it off completely

 

Conservation continues to catch on in the world today. Solar panels are one of the best ways to reduce electricity bills, and from this article, you will understand why. Carrying out an energy audit can also help figure out which devices and gadgets are most consumptive in the home.