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Five Ways To Cut Electricity Use With Technology

Even in the home, there are plenty of ways to cut our electricity consumption. Whether it's through limiting the use of appliances, or actively cutting costs, new and modern technology offers a multitude of ways to achieve this.

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Even in the home, there are plenty of ways to cut our electricity consumption. Whether it's through limiting the use of appliances, or actively cutting costs, new and modern technology offers a multitude of ways to achieve this.

1. Energy monitoring

One of the easiest ways to cut costs is to first monitor the energy you are currently consuming. Various devices and mobile apps make this exceptionally easy. With a mobile app, you can check the energy consumption levels at any time of day or night.

For example, you might not realise the energy costs of leaving various electrical units, such as the television, on standby whilst at work. With a mobile app, you can quickly and effectively get a reading of these figures wherever you are, allowing you to ascertain how much energy you are wasting.

2. New lighting

An often overlooked area, lighting can be quite a drastic source of energy consumption. Energy efficient light bulbs or LEDs are an effective method of cutting these costs. In a traditional light bulb, around 90% of the energy is wasted as heat. Since you only need the 10% for the light, the majority of the energy is being used for a cause you don't need.

This is where energy efficient light bulbs come in. More of the energy is used to create light. As such, less electricity is required. These lights are effective in cutting costs and households can stand to save a considerable amount by fitting them throughout their homes.

3. Alternative energy sources

Likewise, you could consider where the energy is coming from. The likes of solar panels, for example, may prove a sound investment over time. This relatively new technology for the home allows you to produce a small amount of power for yourself, in an environmentally friendly way.

Despite the installation costs, this 'free' power will cut costs on your bills, ultimately paying itself back over time. It is important that you compare the different prices associated with this and businesses can compare electricity prices here.

4. Comparing providers

Furthermore, it never hurts to check your options in terms of energy providers. With various comparison tools, websites and apps, it has never been easier to see what your competitors are offering.

Additionally, if you have figures from monitoring your consumption, you can create a rough estimate of what the costs would be with different providers, giving you an even more accurate understanding of your options. Energy Helpline's website is a great place to begin your comparison.

5. Socket management

It may seem simple, but using devices to determine what's on and off at the plugs can make a big difference. Smart power strips, for example, can be set to turn off all devices when a main device isn't in use. After all, if the TV isn't on, is there any need to be providing power to all the devices connected to it? Smart power strips combat this without any direct involvement from you.

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