Here are some simple tips on how to trim your energy bill - every little helps!
- Make sure you are using LED light bulbs throughout your house. LEDs are much more efficient and last a lot longer than halogen and incandescent globes. Utilising them can save you up to 80% of your lighting costs.
- Use cold water to wash your clothes and instead of using a dryer, hang your clothes up outside or on a drying rack. If your washing machine has an eco cycle or a shorter cycle, these will also help reduce your costs. You can save up to $115 a year by washing your clothes in cold water.
- Check the settings of your appliances. If they have an eco setting, then start using it. Make sure your heating isn’t set too warm (stick to 18-20 degrees) and that your air conditioning isn’t too cool (26 degrees or over is best). It can be worth upgrading your appliances if they are older and less efficient.
- When cooling or heating your home, make sure you shut doors to areas of the house that you aren’t using so you are only heating or cooling the areas that you need. Close your blinds or curtains to keep the cool or warm air in so your heater/air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder than required. Use draught stoppers to stop cold air from coming into your house in winter.
- Insulating your ceiling is a cost-effective way of keeping your home at a comfortable temperature and reducing your energy usage.
- Shop around and make sure you are on the cheapest energy plan available. The retailers change their offering regularly, so it’s worth checking this reasonably often.
- Last but not least, use a Powerpal energy monitor to track your energy consumption and identify power-hogs and inefficient appliances. Users of Powerpal reduce their bills by an average of 15%.