Spare Strøm: Top 10 Tips for Reducing That Electricity Bill

Nobody is happy with the current electricity prices situation in Norway. The increases came as quite a bit of a shock and although everyone is slowly getting used to the new circumstances, people are still far, far away from being satisfied with their energy bills. Much higher than they were used to, the bills have sort of become a nightmare for Norwegians. Sure, the situation is much better at the moment, but the prices are still quite high.

People aren’t waiting for the situation on the entire market to get better, though. It may be a long time until that happens, so Norwegians are taking their own measures to actually reduce the electricity bills. You may be thinking about doing the same thing. If you are, you’re definitely right to think about that, because even the changes in your behavior and consumption habits that you believe to be small can wind up making a big difference in the end.

So, you are here to learn how to save electricity? As I’ve mentioned already, that is definitely the right thing to do. When you take the right steps to spare strøm, you will undeniably manage to lower those bills and ultimately be much happier about the amount of money you are paying for energy on a monthly basis. If you’ve never thought about saving before, though, you may not know exactly how to do it and which steps to take towards making that happen.

If that is the case, then here is what you should do. Read on to get some quite useful tips on how you can save on electricity. Some of those changes I am proposing for you to make may seem small and insignificant, but remember what I said above – even the smallest of changes can make quite a big impact. One small change after another, and you are bound to see a big difference on your electricity bills. So, let me give you the tips you need.

1. Turn Off the Lights

Turn off those lights! I bet you have heard that plenty of times before. You may not have taken it seriously, though. We all know that light bulbs really aren’t the biggest consumers of electricity, but that doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore them. If you’re keeping them on at all times, it can add up to a lot.

So, make sure to always turn the lights off in all the rooms you are not using. Overtime, this can definitely incur some savings. And also, it will turn into a habit as the time passes, so you won’t even have to think about it any longer. You will just do it automatically and save money in the process.

2. Unplug Electrical Appliances When You’re Not Using Them

Here is another one of those things that we often hear about but usually take for granted, thinking that it really isn’t such a big deal. Once again, though, if you’re assuming that it’s not a big deal, you’re making the wrong assumption. One appliance more or less won’t make a difference, but more appliances will, overtime.

So, another thing to do in order to save on your energy bill is unplug electrical appliances when you are not using them. In the long run, this can really lead to some savings. And, just like with the lights, this will soon become a habit, so you will keep doing it automatically, without even thinking about it.

3. Keep the Doors Shut

When you are heating or cooling a room, make sure to always keep the doors to other rooms shut. This will prevent the warm or the cool air from leaving the area, so the device you are using for heating or cooling won’t have to work twice as hard in order to keep the temperature in the room comfortable. Since we’re speaking of Norway, heating devices are certainly big electricity consumers, so keeping the doors shut during the winter is extremely important. The same goes for windows, of course, so remember to check if there may be any cracks that could be letting the warm air out, and resolve that problem as well, since it will have a huge impact on your overall electricity bill.

Read about some more saving methods here: https://www.cnet.com/pictures/here-are-23-ways-to-save-on-your-electric-bills-right-now/

4. Insulate Your Home

Since we’ve started with the topic of the warm air escaping your home, let us take it a bit further. Proper insulation is a must if you don’t want the air to escape. This goes not only for your doors and your windows, but for the entire home, and especially the roof. It is estimated that an insulated roof can help you save up to 20% on heating and cooling. That is a pretty big number, so it definitely shouldn’t be taken for granted.

5. Invest in Better Windows

You may have tried to fix some cracks in the walls by the windows, and you may have taken some other steps to stop the air from escaping through the windows, but nothing may have worked. It may just be that they type of the windows you have is not right for the climate and that there is nothing much you can do about it. Nothing but change them completely.

Investing in better windows can be a game changer. If you’re not sure what kinds you need, feel free to consult with the professionals. Or talk to your neighbors or anyone else that you know isn’t struggling that much with the electricity bills. Sure, the windows are just part of the story, just one reason why the bills may be higher, but it is a big reason, and investing in better ones will certainly pay off, since you’ll be paying less for electricity. So, take the time to assess the quality of the windows in your home and upgrade if you think that you could do better.

6. Don’t Turn the Washing Machine on Until It’s Full

Quite a lot of us turn the washing machine on even if it isn’t full. Sometimes, this is completely justifiable. You have an important outfit to wash for an occasion, or a work uniform, or anything else that is urgent. We turn this into a habit, though, and then wash clothes little by little even if it isn’t urgent. That is a habit you should ditch.

In fact, you should change it for the habit of turning the washing machine on only when it is full. It may take some time to adjust to doing things like that, but you will undeniably be happy that you did, because the washing machine is certainly a big consumer, and this will save you quite a lot of money. Once you first see how much you can save this way, you’re bound to continue doing it.

7. Avoid Dryer Machines If You Can

The dryer is a much bigger consumer than the washing machine. So, it would be best if you could avoid using it as much as possible. Of course, once again, it may be essential at times, and nobody is saying that you should never, ever turn it on, but try to make a plan to use it as rarely as possible. Some clothes are perfectly fine being air dried, and some seasons allow you to do so for pretty much all of the items you are washing. Be smart, be strategic and limit the use of the dryer.

8. Run the Dishwasher When It’s Full and Use the Economy Cycle

The dishwasher is another one of those appliances that you should use smartly. This, naturally, means not turning it on until it is full. The dishes can wait, so there is no reason to run the machine if there is still space left in it for more dirty plates and similar things. Using the dishwasher is more economical than washing the dishes alone, but you still need to be smart about it. Run it when it’s full and use the economy cycle for the best results.

9. Set the Thermostat Right on Your Heating and Cooling Devices

As I have made it clear already, the heating and the cooling devices are the biggest consumers of electricity in every household. Especially the heating devices when it comes to Norway, because people don’t use the cooling ones that much and that often. In any case, not setting the thermostat right can make the devices work twice as hard, trying to achieve the temperature that isn’t exactly achievable. In winter, setting the thermostat to 20 degrees should be enough.

10. Switch Electricity Providers

Another great thing you can do so as to spare strøm , especially if you’re not noticing any big changes after having done all of the things above, is switch electricity providers. Someone out there may have a better contract to offer. A better deal. So, search for those different deals, compare them and switch to the provider that you believe could be most favorable for you and for your consumption habits.