Maintaining a home for long periods of time is costly in both money and time. Having to fix issues every few months can start to take a toll on a retiree’s bank account, and many find that it becomes too much of a burden to really sustain, especially when they need to focus on saving as much money as possible.
Fortunately thanks to modern technology, there are a number of easy upgrades that can be implemented into the home that can help save money in the long-term. Here we will look at some of the most common and what their benefits are.
Lighting
Having lights throughout the house is a must, allowing a person to safely navigate even after the sun has gone down. But not all light bulbs are created equal, and those that use incandescent bulbs will find that they need to pay that much more on their electricity bill every month.
On top of that, traditional light bulbs also tend not too last that long, meaning that regular changes are necessary. This can, however, easily be mitigated by swapping out all of the old bulbs for LED lights. LED bulbs are a great investment, often using a fraction of the electricity, while boasting significantly longer lifespans. It’s a simple and cheap upgrade that can be done with nothing more than a ladder.
Solar Geyser
While installing a full solar system can be extremely expensive, there are some smaller solar-related upgrades that can be done to help cut down on the power bill every month. A large portion of a house’s power goes into heating up water, specifically the water in a geyser.
An easy way to amend this issue is by installing a solar geyser, which are relatively cheap and can last for many years. The water is then heated up by the sun rather than the mains, meaning that there is not a constant draw to keep the water at an optimum temperature.
Low-Flow Showerheads
Older showerheads tend to produce a lot more water than what’s really necessary to take a shower, and this can quickly become a problem when it comes to the water bill at the end of the month.
The best way to reduce the amount of water that comes out of a showerhead is by replacing it with a low-flow one. These are designed to significantly reduce how much flow there is while still providing plenty of hot water to take a relaxing shower. These are cheap to buy and can easily be found at most local hardware shops as well as online.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
It’s speculated that an appliance uses 100% more electricity per decade, depending on how old it is. This means that a fridge made in the 1970s will consume around 500% more electricity than a modern fridge, or even a modern computer, whether it’s used for social media or finding the best NRL betting odds. And while appliances, especially larger ones, are a much bigger upfront investment, they can ultimately help radically reduce the overall power bill.
