10 tricks to save electricity at home

April 20, 2026

Every month we suffer one of the biggest financial blows: the electricity bill. And even more so with the recent price increases. In fact, it's estimated that in the last two decades, the cost of electricity has increased by more than 90%, and this trend doesn't seem likely to change.

As soon as we see the electricity bill, we all think: "I have to save electricity no matter what." And it's no longer just about improving our household finances, but also about helping the environment, since its production has a significant impact on it. Therefore, as part of our Planet First policies, we want to share with you 10 tips for saving electricity at home. At divainwe've already implemented them, and we've noticed the difference!

Habits and tricks for saving electricity

Energy expenditure list

The first step to saving electricityis to be fully aware of our energy consumption.

. To do this, the best thing to do is make a list of your electricity expenses, noting all your sources of light consumption, starting with the biggest (like heating or air conditioning) and ending with the smallest (small appliances). Once you've identified them, you can implement a reduction in usage that suits you. Reduce the number of light bulbs and switch to LEDs. Although we may not realize it, we often have more light bulbs than we need. Therefore, it's important to take stock and adjust them as much as possible to avoid unnecessary expenses. And that's because light tends to overlap, so when you have several light bulbs in the same space, if you remove one, you probably won't notice a significant loss of light. Try removing one, and if you see that it doesn't make much of a difference, consider removing it permanently or replacing it with a much less wattage bulb. We also recommend that you introduce LED bulbs into your life. Why? It's very simple:

They are much more environmentally friendly, since they consume between 70 and 80% less than incandescent bulbsand 30% less than fluorescent bulbs.
They have a longer lifespan.
They are more resistant.

Keep an eye on your appliances

As a general rule, household appliances Those who spend the most are those who work in the kitchens. Refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, and dishwashers account for almost 60% of a household's total appliance expenses. So you can imagine how important it is to use them correctly: The refrigerator and freezer consume the most energy, and even more so when their doors are open. Open and close them quickly to avoid high energy consumption. A fun fact: the emptier they are, the more energy they consume, since food that is already cold or frozen helps maintain a lower temperature.

As for ironing, it's a good idea to accumulate a good amount of laundry and iron it all at onceotherwise, you'll multiply your electricity consumption. Another trick: Start with the clothes that require less heat and leave the ones that need more for last. Also, if you have to buy a new appliance, it's also recommended that you invest a little more and get a model that includes a low-consumption mode and has greater energy efficiency. Models rated A, A+, and A++; They consume on average 55% less energy. They are more expensive, but in the long run, they are well worth it.

Standby mode is the worst enemy of saving electricity

Another great trick for saving energy is to unplug electronic devices as soon as you finish using them. When you turn them off, you're not completely switching them off; they remain in standby mode.standby. Yes, stand-by, that little red or blue light that remains on once we have pressed the off.

In theory, devices stay in this mode to update themselves or to start up faster the next time they are turned on, but this entails a hidden energy drain: standby consumes electricity, no less than between 8 and 10% of total consumption.

So, as mentioned, it's time to unplug everything! Since doing it manually can be a bit tedious, we recommend connecting several devices to the same power strip and simply switching off the ones you won't be using for a while. Use energy-saving or low-power mode whenever possible. Many household appliances and electronic devices, such as computers, mobile phones, and washing machines, have energy-saving or low-power modes that are very efficient at conserving energy.

Regulate the temperature of your heating and air conditioning

Being at home in short sleeves in winter and a cardigan in summer is a real waste.Regulate the temperature to avoid completely unnecessary energy costs.

The importance of this regulation is incredible, since increasing the heating temperature by just one degree can lead to an increase in energy consumption of 7%!

In winter, it is recommended to maintain a room temperature between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius during the day and between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius at night.

400;"> during the night; While in summer, the ambient temperature should not be lower than 24 or 25 degrees.

Adapt your habits

If you adapt your appliance usage to off-peak hours as much as possible, you will see a slight decrease in your electricity bill.

Most tariffs have their lowest prices at the end of week. Take advantage of this to do the week's laundry, ironing…

The nighttime rate is also considerably cheaper, although it doesn't fit well with most people's daily routine. If you work shifts or are a night owl, consider switching to a nighttime tariff because you'll notice the difference. Change your contracted power to save money. On your electricity bill, consumption is only part of what you pay, as a large portion corresponds to taxes and the contracted power, which you have to pay even if you don't consume any electricity. The contracted power indicates the amount of electricity you can consume at any one time. And this represents an average of almost 50% of the total bill! So, to save money, it's very important to be fully aware of your normal energy consumption so you can contract only what you need (although we always recommend adding a small margin in case of unexpected expenses). Insulate your home well from the outside. It's estimated that no less than 25% of a home's heat is lost through windows and door gaps. That's why it's so important to thoroughly check all leak points so you can install insulation (weatherstripping is most effective in gaps) or even replace doors or windows if the leaks are irreparable.

Electricity Consumption Monitor

Finally, we recommend you get an electricity consumption monitor.Electricity Consumption Monitor. These devices connect to the electrical circuit and track total consumption, identifying areas where the most energy is being used. This will make it easier for you to identify where you can save electricity in your home.Electricity Consumption Monitor.

Why is it important to save energy?

Electrical energy is produced through generating plants such as thermoelectric or hydroelectric plants; and these have a significant environmental impact, since they consume massive amounts of natural resources and destroy the ecosystem. Furthermore, in the case of thermoelectric plants, fossil fuels are burned, which generate greenhouse gas emissions that seriously harm the environment.

Thus,the more energy we save, the less we consume, with the consequent benefit to the environment. You know, Planet First!