Intelligently position your fridge and freezer: cold appliances do not like the vicinity of the oven or radiator or direct sunlight. Defrost them regularly because a frosted appliance consumes much more electricity. As soon as the frost reaches 3 mm in thickness, it is therefore essential to maintain your device, otherwise, its consumption will increase by 30%. This reflex saves around 30 $ per year, for a combined appliance like a fridge plus freezer. For the Reliant Energy Plans this is essential.
Keep in mind that to produce cold, these devices have circuits that also reject a lot of heat. To facilitate its evacuation and allow effective ventilation, leave enough space between the appliance and the wall. Make sure that the air circulates well around it: allow a space of at least 10 cm above the device and behind it, this avoids significant overconsumption. Finally, remember to dust the air outlets every six months.
Washing machine, dryer, dishwasher: use it wisely
According to experts, the number of dishwasher cycles has increased in recent years from 3.1 to 4.1 per week, because it is run more often without filling it completely. As with the washing machine and dryer, the first factor in electricity consumption is, of course, the frequency of use. The dryer, in particular, consumes on average twice as much energy as the washing machine, and it is, therefore, advisable to dry your laundry manually when possible.
These systems have seen improvements in recent years, which save electricity for each use. It is rarely said but running your laundry machines in cold water is very efficient and saves 50%. New washing machine products now make it possible to wash your laundry effectively at low temperatures. However, a 30 ° cycle consumes three times less energy than a 90 ° wash. On the dishwasher side, activating the "eco" mode will allow the appliance to consume less water, and d '' save 25% of electricity on average. Those who have off-peak hours must ensure that their hot water tank is programmed to operate during off-peak hours and that household appliances are preferably used during off-peak hours.
Use off-peak hours wisely for electricity
If you are at the double tariff, think of launching your devices during off-peak hours, when the price of electricity is significantly lower compared to the simple tariff. The off-peak time slots depend on your location and can extend during the early afternoon and at night, or only at night, for a total of 8 hours. For your off-peak hours, you can refer to your electricity bill.
Households that do not use electricity for heating and hot water should not choose the off-peak option as they would lose it in most cases. This pricing option is only profitable from off-peak consumption of around 40% of its overall consumption. Changing the tariff option on your meter allows you to make significant savings on your electricity bill.
Buy only low-energy appliances and light bulbs
In addition to the ecological nature of such an approach, equipping oneself with low-consumption electrical devices makes it possible to effectively reduce your annual electricity bill. The proliferation in recent years of household appliances, audiovisual and high-tech in our homes does not help this increase in electricity consumption and thus the reduction of our purchasing power. Upon purchase, check the energy efficiency of electrical appliances.