Energy saving tips
Energy solutions that save
Heating accounts for nearly half the energy bill for
the average family home. When cold weather hits, the temptation is
to turn up all the heating. You can save on heating bills with
these simple measures.
- Where possible, install insulation in ceilings, under timber
floors and in walls.
- If you cannot insulate your entire home at once, start with the
main living area where your heating requirement is the
greatest.
- Effective window coverings are essential for keeping the heat
inside.
- Place weather sealing on all external doors and windows and
controllable dampers to open fireplaces.
- Set your heater thermostat at the lowest possible setting and
increase the temperature gradually to a comfortable setting. The
best temperature range for your thermostat is between 18 and 21
degrees celsius.
- Only use the heater when you need it. Don't leave it running on
low overnight or if you go out during the day.
- Minimise the area to be heated by closing doors or fitting
drapes over open archways.
- With ducted heating systems, check with the manufacturer about
how many ducts can be closed off without causing the system to
overheat and operate inefficiently.
- Consider the size of the room or area to be heated. If you only
need to heat one room, it may be cheaper to do so with a room space
heater or even a portable heater.
Hot water savings
Hot water can account for about a quarter of your energy bills.
In a typical household, hot water is second only to heating as the
largest user of energy. Here are some simple rules which will cut
the cost of your bills without any loss of comfort or
convenience.
- Fit a low-flow showerhead or flow restrictor to your shower
when using mains pressure hot water.
- Insulate hot water pipes with synthetic rubber insulation.
- Use cold water and cold water detergent when washing clothes.
If you are using warm or hot water, maximise the load. Don't set
the water level to the maximum if you don't need to.
- Fix dripping hot water taps and replace any leaking plugs.
- A full bath costs more than a short shower.
Save on power hungry cooking
Cooking can use considerable energy. Here are some ways you can
save on your cooking bills without compromising the quality of your
meal:
- Use a microwave oven when it is practical to do so. Not only
will your cooking time be reduced considerably – you can save up to
70% on the cost of a convection oven.
- Small appliances such as electric fry pans, sandwich makers and
cooktops use less energy than grillers, hot plates or ovens.
- Use steamers and pot dividers to cook all your vegetables at
once rather than using several hot plates to cook them
separately.
Save on clothes dryers
During winter months, it is not always an option for busy
families with large wash loads to dry clothes on an outside line.
If you need to use a dryer, conserve energy by following these
tips.
- Spin-dry your clothes on the fast spin cycle before placing
them in the dryer.
- Don't overload the dryer –- you are merely creating more work
for the dryer over a longer drying period.
- Clean the lint filter before each load –- this will shorten the
drying time.
- Make sure your laundry is well ventilated. Open a window, use
an exhaust fan or fit a venting kit to the dryer to reduce humidity
and drying time.
Want to know more about your energy use?
If you have a smart meter installed, you can be part of our
Energy Easy free trial. To find out more, click here