Reducing your energy usage starts at home, but it’s tricky to know where to focus your attention. To work out how much energy appliances use, look out for the wattage indication on the appliance itself. The higher the number of watts, the more electricity is used. This, combined with the time an appliance is used, influences your energy bills and consumption.
With this in mind, let’s dive into the areas of your home that use the most energy and how to reduce wasted energy in these spaces.
The living room
TVs, gaming consoles or computers – anything electronic that serves your entertainment needs – draw power as soon as they are plugged in and will continue to do so until they are unplugged.
An easy way to work around this is to plug all your devices into one power bar. When you aren’t using your devices, unplug them all in one go, so they aren’t able to draw power. Another option is to invest in a power bar with a timer or a smart power strip. That way, if you fall asleep in front of the TV without turning it off (we’ve all been there), these energy-saving products will turn off connected devices after a certain time.
The kitchen
Your kitchen probably houses the appliances that are used the most. Purchasing appliances with energy-saving features is a zero-effort way to reduce your power consumption. When buying a new appliance, look for the Energy Rating label. The most efficient are rated A+ and above, so they use less electricity.
For context, an average fridge uses about 162 kWh per month. Luckily, some home appliance manufacturers are dedicated to improving these numbers. LG Electronics, for example, uses an innovative Inverter Linear Compressor in its fridges. These compressors run on up to 18% less energy than conventional compressors which is designed with efficiency in mind and minimises your energy footprint. Many of them can also be connected to the LG ThinQ app, which can be used to monitor and optimize appliance energy usage.
The bedroom
While the bedroom might not require as much energy as other areas in the home, it is still a space where you can reduce energy usage. TVs, phone chargers, room lights, and alarm clocks all use electricity. Remember to unplug chargers and appliances when they’re not in use, use LED lights wherever possible, and consider energy-efficient appliances. Modern air conditioners, for example, are much more energy efficient, and many units are designed to save you energy.
The garage
It’s so easy to get out of the car, load up your arms with groceries and completely forget to turn off the lights in the garage. If this sounds all too familiar, switch out your globes for LEDs. They have many advantages over incandescent light sources, including lower energy consumption and longer lifetimes. Or use a timer or motion detector – also excellent for outdoor lights – to make sure you’re only using lights when needed.
Power tools will also continue to use energy when they’re plugged in. Always double-check to see if everything’s unplugged after completing a DIY project.
Adopting an energy-saving mindset is easy. All it takes are a few tweaks to your lifestyle and being more conscious when purchasing home appliances. Save on your electricity bill, be kind to the planet and reduce your energy footprint to make sure life stays good for longer.