Electricity is one of the most crucial energy forms in the world now. No device in the world can operate directly or indirectly using it. As the urbanisation in Australia skyrocketed, electricity usage increased considerably. But the wastage of electricity concerning usage is also rising.
The Australian government introduced many programs to encourage the saving of electricity. But individual participation is the only way to minimise wastage. One of the best options that people can adopt for this cause is the usage of LED lighting in Australia. LED lights are more energy-efficient than other light bulbs as they produce lower heat. All the traditional light bulbs like incandescent lights lose a vast amount of energy as heat, and this loss causes a reduction in efficiency by a considerable amount.
A large part of electricity is produced from non-renewable energy sources like diesel generators and flowing water. So, every piece of electrical equipment is required to provide maximum efficiency for the conservation of energy. There are many methods by which consumers can reduce electricity usage and its cost in households, and some of which are:
- Energy-Efficient Appliances
Conventional appliances draw a lot of electricity in which a considerable amount is lost as heat. Meanwhile, energy-efficient appliances are those optimised to use the least amount of energy to perform their task.
Nowadays, Energy ratings are introduced in every piece of electrical equipment. These ratings help the customer know how energy efficient the product is. One of the prominent types of new energy rating methods in appliances is the star rating. There are one to five-star ratings given to the device after checking the energy efficiency. The 5 star rated devices are the most energy-efficient, and as the star rating reduces, the efficiency also reduces. Due to this rating method, the customer can easily select the best energy-efficient device for their household.
- Paint Colour Selection and Windows
It does not seem that paint colour selection affects energy saving. But selecting brighter coloured paints can help reduce the number and brightness requirements of light sources. On the other hand, the use of dark colours will affect the scattering of light in the room and thus makes the room darker. This, in turn, leads to the use of more light sources.
LED light bulbs are the most efficient light sources available in the market. Hence, the use of LED lighting in Australia has increased considerably over the last few years. LED bulbs produce milky white light. And if you pair this with a white coloured wall, it will provide more light inside the room. The use of a decent number of windows also affects energy efficiency. More windows allow more natural light inside. Open windows also help to reduce the temperature inside the house by letting the fresh air inside.
- Renewable Energy Sources
Consumers have the freedom to use renewable energy sources like solar energy. In Australia, sunlight is available throughout the year. So, solar panels are one of the best possible sources that can reduce the cost of electricity.
Moreover, the best thing about solar panels is their flexibility in size. Hence, the customer can choose between various sizes as per their power requirement. The initial cost of installation may be high when it comes to solar panels. But the running cost and maintenance cost is pretty much negligible. The rooftop installation of the solar panel reduces the space required for their installation and saves heat radiation from the sun reaching the interior.
Due to the environment-friendly features of solar power generation, the Australian government provides many grants to promote solar products. So customers can buy these at a reduced rate which further reduces the cost of electricity.