Inflation-driven electric bills: Practical ways to cut costs at home

How can we save on electricity at home? It turns out that it’s not that difficult at all. You just need to follow simple rules to reduce electricity consumption and know which appliances are worth unplugging.

High inflation and partial remote work have caused Canadians to receive increasingly higher electricity bills. Although it seems we can't do more to pay less, we often overlook basic measures that can help us save, such as putting still-warm food in the refrigerator.

So, how do we limit energy consumption? There are probably as many ways to save on electricity as there are people. However, to pay less, follow the few rules below.

1. Replace halogens with dimmable LED bulbs. According to the analysis by the National Energy Conservation Agency for the Polish Committee of Electrical Energy, electricity consumption can decrease by as much as 72%.
2. Do not put hot or warm food in the refrigerator. When you do, the fridge increases energy consumption, translating to higher bills.
3. Dry your hair as briefly as possible. Firstly, long hair drying is not healthy for your hair. Secondly, you use a lot of electricity. Shorter hair drying can reduce electricity consumption by up to 9%.
4. Don’t wash at high temperatures. The heater will consume less energy this way.
5. Ensure devices are not in "standby" mode. A laptop that is not turned off and unplugged but just closed still uses a lot of electricity.

According to the ranking presented by Energa, the ten appliances that consume the most electricity are:

1. Electric stove,
2. Induction stove,
3. Electric boiler,
4. Kettle,
5. Dishwasher,
6. Refrigerator,
7. Clothes dryer,
8. Lighting,
9. Desktop computer,
10. TV and home theatre.