Electricity saving guide for homes
Practical ways to cut a home electricity bill: AC settings, standby use, LED, hot water, time-of-use tariff and insulation, with a savings estimator.
In a home, most consumption comes from heating and cooling, hot water, the refrigerator and lighting. Often the biggest gain comes from settings and habits rather than new appliances; the steps below are ordered from easy to hard.
Quick wins
No-cost or very low-cost changes to habits and settings.
Switch to LED lighting
Replacing incandescent and halogen bulbs with LED cuts lighting energy substantially and the bulbs last far longer. Start with the most-used rooms (living room, kitchen, hallway).
Cut standby consumption
TVs, set-top boxes, consoles, chargers and idle devices draw power even when "off". Use switched power strips or smart plugs to cut them completely at night and when away.
Set the AC and thermostat sensibly
Aim for 24-26 °C in summer and 20-21 °C in winter; every degree noticeably changes run time. Clean filters monthly, keep the outdoor unit clear and shade sunny windows. If replacing an old unit, choose an inverter model with a high energy class.
Use the refrigerator efficiently
Set the fridge to +4 °C and the freezer to -18 °C, check the door seals, do not put hot food in and leave space behind for airflow. When replacing a unit over 10 years old, favour the higher classes on the new energy label.
Washing machine and dishwasher habits
Run machines full, wash at 30-40 °C or on eco programmes and line-dry when you can instead of tumble-drying. Heating the water is most of the energy.
Measure and track
A plug-in energy meter shows what each appliance uses; compare your bill with last month and last year. Households that simply track consumption typically see a 2-5% reduction.
Investments
Equipment upgrades or infrastructure; evaluate them by payback period.
Optimise the hot water system
Keep the storage heater at 50-55 °C, insulate the tank and pipes and switch it off when unused or fit a timer. A solar water heater can cover much of the electric hot-water load.
Insulation and draught-proofing
In homes heated or cooled electrically, heat loss goes straight to the bill. Door and window seals are a very cheap first step; roof and wall insulation and double glazing are larger, longer-term investments.
Rooftop solar (PV)
With a suitable roof, generating your own electricity can cover much of the bill. Estimate capacity, cost and payback for your city and consumption in the Solar (GES) Calculator.
Tariff and contract side
Tariff, contracted power and time-of-use decisions that cut the bill for the same consumption.
Shift load to night with a time-of-use tariff
On a time-of-use meter the night rate (22:00-06:00) is lower than daytime. Move deferrable loads such as the washer, dishwasher, storage heater and EV charging to night; compare with single-rate in the Bill Calculator.
Know the tier threshold
On the residential tariff, consumption above a monthly tier threshold may be billed at a higher unit price. See the current limit and its effect in the Bill Calculator; if you are close, shifting deferrable use to the next month helps.
Savings estimator and checklist
Enter your average monthly bill and tick the measures you have applied or plan to; see the estimated annual savings range. Your selections are stored only in this browser.
0 of 10 measures selected
Estimated annual savings
Tick a measure.
This is a rough estimate: measures reduce each other's effect, so effects are combined rather than added and the total is capped at 40%. Actual results vary by site or home; firm figures need metering or an energy audit.
Frequently asked questions
What uses the most electricity at home?
It varies by home; electric heating/cooling, hot water, the fridge-freezer, laundry and dishwashing machines and lighting usually lead. A plug-in energy meter shows the split in your own home.
Which saving is fastest?
The no-cost steps: thermostat settings, cutting standby use, running machines full and cool, and shifting deferrable loads to the night band of a time-of-use tariff. They show up in the first month with no investment.
Does rooftop solar make sense for me?
It depends on your consumption, roof area and your city's solar resource. The Solar Calculator estimates capacity, cost and payback from those; a site visit and current quotes are needed for a firm decision.
Rates and periods in this guide are typical ranges based on general industry data; they vary by site and home and do not replace metering or an energy audit. For regulations and incentives, rely on current official sources.
Let's look at your situation together
Share your bill or facility and we can review which steps fit you.