Suffering from bill shock? We know how you feel, we were once in your shoes. That is until we knew how to be energy smart. Here’s the low down on how to be energy smart and as a result financially better off!
1. Dress to impress… your bank account
It may seem trivial, but dressing for the right temperature will mean that the air around you won’t need to be altered by your heating or cooling systems. If you’re cold, put on some slippers and a jumper rather than turning your heater up. You’ll be surprised what a difference it can make.
2. Use Your Washing Machine Smartly
Washing your clothes on the cold cycle can save over $120 a year on your electricity bill. Not sure about you, but that’s $120 we would much rather spend on something other than daily chores. Choosing the shortest cycle and waiting until you have a full load to wash are also ways to be energy smart in your daily routine.
3. Insulation Is Your Friend
This is an obvious one. Still, many Australians don’t have adequate insulation in their homes. Make sure you have insulation in your roof and it is rated correctly – anything with an R-value is adequate.
4. Shut The Door and Close Your Curtains
Heating or cooling five rooms is always going to use more electricity that one. If you’re using airconditioning, close the doors to the areas of your home you’re not spending time in and you’ll need a fraction of the energy. The same goes for curtains, blinds and anything else that stops temperature leakage.
5. Keep An Eye On That Thermostat
A difference of one or two degrees can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars to your energy bill. Set your thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees in winter and to 26 degrees or above in summer. Going up to just 21 degrees in winter can mean a 10 per cent increase on your electricity bill!
6. Use The Right Light Bulbs
When it comes to light bulbs there’s only one word to remember – LED. Millions of Australian homes are still using inefficient incandescent and halogen bulbs, which don’t just increase your electricity bill dramatically, but pose a fire threat to your home.
7. Cut Costs In The Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most energy intensive rooms in a house. There are many ways to cut electricity costs in the kitchen, such as thawing frozen food before you cook it, cooking with lids on to reduce cooking time and using the energy efficient function on your dishwasher.
8. Don’t Stand By While Your Electronics Suck Up Electricity
Leaving electronics and appliances on standby mode still uses significant amounts of electricity. Up to 10 per cent of your electricity bill could be because of leaving phone chargers, kitchen appliances and anything with a plug on standby when you’re not using them. Switch off and save!
9. Be Smart With Your Biggest Electricity Consumer
Your fridge is one of the most energy intensive items in a home. If your fridge has inadequate sealing, incredible amounts of electricity are being wasted. Similarly, make sure the temperatures on your fridge are within the most efficient range and not unnecessarily cold. Typically, your fridge should be between 4 and 5 degrees Celsius and your freezer should be between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.
10. Flick The Off Switch
Unless you have an extremely high maintenance pet, you don’t need to leave heating or cooling on while you’re not home. Once again, turning off unnecessary electricity supplies when you’re not in the house will guarantee you savings when bill time rolls around. If you work from home, read more here for how to be energy smart in your home office!
Photo courtesy of Dennis Skley
