3 Recommended Ways an Expert Electrician Can Make Your Space More Energy Efficient
Recent years have seen a significant shift toward energy efficiency all around the world. The reason for this stems from an increase in the cost of living as well as the need to be kinder to the environment. This means that adopting the concept of energy efficiency not only helps you to save money, but finding more efficient ways to do things can potentially reduce carbon emissions.
There are many things that a home or business owner can do to make their spaces as energy-efficient as possible. You also don’t have to struggle to do it on your own. It’s with this in mind that locals are turning to the electrician Hawthorn residents trust with all things electrical. Not only will the team of electrical experts offer advice and guidelines on how to make your space more energy efficient, but they can also install and upgrade systems and fixtures to achieve this.
Understanding Why Energy Efficiency Matters
You may think that the term “energy efficiency” is just the buzzword of the day, but the reality is that reducing energy consumption in your home or workspace can dramatically reduce high energy bills while at the same time lowering your overall environmental impact.
Making a space more energy efficient involves finding eco-friendly ways to reduce the total amount of energy you consume at home or work. A few basic ways to use less energy include better insulating your home, swapping out energy-guzzling lights for LED lighting, and even adding renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
The three primary benefits of adopting energy efficient principles and practices around your home are:
- You’ll create significant cost savings in your gas and electrical bills
- Minor adjustments to your maintenance plans enhance overall health and comfort
- Helps you achieve your environmental responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Simple Changes Make a Significant Difference
When it comes to energy efficiency, the hard truth is that there’s always something more to do to ensure that your home or workspace uses less energy. Some good news here is that your local electrician can help you with this. Our clever experts share a few of the simple ways this can happen.
- Do a Full Electrical Inspection
If you want to increase the energy efficiency, your local electrician will always start the process with a complete electrical inspection. The goal is always to identify dated and high-energy-consuming appliances and devices. Often called energy guzzlers, these appliances and components can be exchanged for efficient alternatives.
A few of the older components that can be replaced in older homes include the following:
- Older appliances (such as that old, inherited fridge) that use more electricity than needed
- Incandescent light fittings that draw more energy than needed
- Lighting transformers with iron cores that consume huge amounts of electricity
- Blocked exhaust fans are slowing down efficiency
- Overworked and worn electrical switchboards that struggle to meet changing requirements
Once these components have been identified, your electrician will give you a breakdown of the most urgent ones to replace. This will enable you to budget for replacements and upgrades.
- Update Old Switchboards and Wiring
Few homeowners know that the old switchboards, panels, and wiring found in homes older than 20 years don’t meet the energy requirements of modern devices and appliances. Upgrading these is the most effective place to start, as modern wiring and components are not only safer to use but are significantly more energy efficient.
Upgrading your switchboard will also improve the value of your home. This upgrade also saves you money in the long-term because you won’t have to replace it if you ever want to sell the property.
- Upgrade All Light Fixtures and Light Bulbs
As we’ve already mentioned, older homes are enormous energy guzzlers. One of the features that contributes to this is the incandescent light bulbs that are often found in light fittings and loose lamps. These light bulbs use so much energy because they heat a filament to convert energy into light. When the filament heats, the bulb illuminates.
Fortunately, the local Australian government has made it a priority to reduce all halogen and incandescent light bulbs. These are then replaced with modern, energy-efficient LED
solutions. Depending on the number of lights you have inside and outdoors, making this small change can have a huge impact.
Additional electrical installations that your electrician will recommend include the following:
- Upgrading all switches, switchboards, and dimmers
- Creating efficient wiring for outdoor and indoor applications
- More efficient wiring for indoor and outdoor applications
- Switching out lamps rather than using ceiling bulbs
- Replacing older appliances such as fridges and washing machines with more efficient models
Final Thoughts
The key way to make your home energy efficient is to have a certified electrician assess all your wiring and electrical components. Identifying all the major energy consumers will make it easy to start planning and budgeting for new upgrades. Your electrician will also recommend the best products and brands to use as you move your space toward better energy efficiency.
