One of the most surprising things about the bathroom is all the ways you can be more energy efficient. There are several ways to save electricity in the bathroom to make it more eco-friendly, and that’s what we are diving into today!
As we discovered in the post about 7 of the best ways to save water in the bathroom, the smallest things add up to make a big difference.
These things create a more sustainable bathroom, as well as save you money, which I’m sure we can all use a bit more of these days.
What makes focusing on electricity different is that each thing is connected to something else. These swaps have additional pros, which we will discuss within each one.
6 Ways to Save Electricity In The Bathroom
Most of these tips to save electricity in the bathroom are FREE to implement, but I do have a couple of investment options for you that provide quick returns.
1 // Unplug anything you’re not using
Whether you have a blow dryer, hair straightener, curling iron, etc., be sure they are unplugged when not in use.
Not only can heating tools be dangerous to keep plugged in, but they also pull a lot of energy.
Other things, like a room heater, diffuser, etc., that you may keep plugged in should be unplugged when not in use as well. They pull energy regardless if they are turned on or not.
2 // Turn off lights when not in the bathroom
This may seem like a no-brainer, but I want to mention it anyway!
If turning off the bathroom lights when you aren’t in there isn’t a habit already, leave a note by the light switch to remind yourself to turn off the light. Once you develop the habit, you can remove the note.
Turning off lights when you aren’t in the bathroom saves electricity in a major way, as well as extends the life of your lightbulbs, which is also another way to save money!
The Discovery Channel show, Mythbusters, discovered that it is almost always more energy-efficient to turn lights off when leaving the room. [source]
The deciding factor for that leads me to my next tip.
3 // Switch to LED lightbulbs
LED lightbulbs are the most energy-efficient lightbulbs that exist currently. They are more expensive than the really cheap energy-sucking lightbulbs, but they offer a really good return on investment and are often brighter than traditional bulbs.
They can save as much as 85% of your electric usage where lights are concerned, and they can last for a couple of decades, which is amazing!
Traditional incandescent bulbs only last a tiny fraction of that and definitely cost you far more than LED lightbulbs.
4 // Take shorter showers
Not only does taking shorter showers save water, it also saves electricity.
This is because your hot water heater uses electricity to heat the water.
By reducing your shower time, you reduce the need for more water to be heated, which saves electricity, money, and water!
5 // Lower the temperature on your hot water heater
This isn’t talked about as much as I expected, but it is a BIG SAVER for sure!
Most hot water heaters are set on too high a heat setting, which actually costs you more money than it is worth. It also puts your home in danger of damage.
By setting your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less, you will be in the energy-efficient window and eliminate any danger of damage.
Here is a quote from Energy.gov that you may find helpful:
Set too high, or at 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses and more than $400 in demand losses.
read more…
Here is a video to show you how to adjust your hot water heater’s thermostat:
6 // Get a tankless hot water heater
Increase your home’s sustainability by installing a tankless hot water heater that provides unlimited hot water.
It only heats up water instantly when needed and doesn’t constantly keep water hot when you don’t need it. Plus, it is smaller, so it takes up far less space!
A tankless hot water heater can reduce your water heating costs by up to 50%, which is amazing savings!
Depending on your water usage and how much of an investment you choose, you could make your money back within the first year and be on saving a lot of money after that.
Final thoughts on saving electricity in the bathroom
I love how easy it is to save electricity in the bathroom! Don’t you?
The key to saving energy is to think of how things are connected.
For example, shorter showers mean less water usage, as well as saving hot water and how much the hot water heater has to work.
Each of these tips adds up to big savings, so be sure to make these swaps as soon as possible!
If you have a tip to save electricity in the bathroom that wasn’t included in this post, please be sure to leave it below in the comments!
I love learning new ways to increase my home’s energy efficiency, and so does this community.
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