Energy Efficiency

Reducing energy consumption in your home can save you money every month off your energy account and need not cost you a cent.

So for free or low cost ideas on how you can reduce your energy use - and cut your power bill by up to 10% - simply choose an energy use below.

• Heating your home
• Hot water
• Refrigeration
• Clothes washing & drying
• Dishwashing
• Cooking
• Lighting
• Other appliances

Heating your home

• Close doors to separate heated from unheated areas of your home, and minimise the area you are heating.


• Heat living areas to a comfortable level. Each degree over 18 can increase your power bill by 5%.


• Heat bedroom areas to less than 18 degrees celsius.


• Turn off the heating overnight and when you are out during the day.


• If you have gas heaters, turn off heater pilot lights during the warmer months.


• Use a space or portable heater instead of the central heater, if only one room needs heating.


• Choose heaters with thermostat controls and timers.


• Keep heaters clean and regularly serviced.


• Close windows and doors when you are heating.


• Shut curtains, drapes and blinds when you are heating.


• Close or block off all fire places that are seldom used.


• Open curtains and drapes on sunny winter days to let the sunlight in.

Hot water

• Insulate external hot water pipes.


• Ensure hot water taps are in good condition - no leaks or drips.


• Check that your hot water heater's vent pipe is not leaking.


• Check that the hot water is at the optimum temperature.


• Turn off your water heater when you go on holiday for more than a week.


• Use a water saving shower head in your shower.


• Have a short shower instead of a bath.


• Use a cold rinse for your clothes washing and dish washing.

Refrigeration

• Defrost and clean the inside of your refrigerator and freezer at least once every six months.


• Clean the coils behind your refrigerator at least once a year.


• Keep the temperature in your refrigerator between 3 - 5 degrees Celsius.


• Keep the temperature in your freezer between -15 & -18 degrees Celsius.


• Check that the door seals on the refrigerator and freezer are tight fitting - the seals should hold a five dollar note in place when the door is closed.


• Switch off additional refrigerators and freezers if they are mostly empty or only used occasionally.


• Stock refrigerators or freezers during cooler periods.


• Keep well stocked, and pack items so cool air can circulate freely around the inside of the unit.


• Ensure good air circulation around the outside and behind the unit.


• Place the unit in a shaded and cool location.


• Open the doors only when required and keep them open as briefly as possible.

Clothes washing & drying

• Run the clothes washer or clothes dryer only with full loads.


• Wash clothes in cold water.


• Ensure clothes are well spun before they are put in the dryer.


• Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer each time you use it.


• Put moist clothes in the dryer, not dripping wet.


• Turn off the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry enough - don't over dry the clothes.


• Locate the dryer in a warm space.


• Dry heavy articles separately from light articles.


• Use the cool down cycle on the dryer, especially if items are just damp.

Dishwashing

• Run the dishwasher only when full.


• Use the "economy cycle" when running the dishwasher.


• Stop the dishwasher before the drying cycle and open the door to let the dishes air dry.

Cooking

• Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional oven as much as possible.


• Keep surfaces and reflectors clean and well maintained.


• Use the right size hotplate for the right size pot.


• Use energy efficient cooking practices, such as; using minimum water, keeping lids on pots, simmering instead of boiling and keeping cooking times to minimum.


• Turn the oven off a few minutes before your food is ready.


• Keep the inside of your microwave oven clean.


• Use smaller appliances such as toaster ovens instead of the conventional oven or grill for smaller portions.


• Use an electric kettle instead of boiling water on the stove top.


• Use a pressure cooker instead of conventional pots and pans.


• Cook several dishes at the same time in the oven.


• Use thermometers or timers to avoid over cooking.


• Ensure the seals on your oven are in good condition.


• Avoid opening the oven door unnecessarily during cooking.


• Thaw frozen food naturally before cooking.


• In a microwave oven, cook smaller pieces rather than large chunks.


• In a microwave oven, arrange unevenly shaped items with the thickest portion to the outside.


• In a microwave oven, regularly stir or turn the food over to speed up cooking time.

Lighting

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.


• Use fluorescent lighting or compact fluorescent lamps in the kitchen, lounge, family room and other areas where lights are on for more than 4 hours a day.


• Use fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps fitted to security lights and outdoor lights that are on for more than 4 hours a day.


• Use programmable timers, daylight sensors or motion sensors to control outdoor and security lighting.


• Use the "task" lighting rather than whole room lighting when a small amount of light is required.


• Regularly clean light fittings, reflectors and lampshades.


• Use the lowest wattage bulbs to adequately light the area you require.


• Slowly replace all your bulbs to energy efficiency bulbs.


• Maximise the use of natural light through the use of soft or pale coloured interiors and furnishings.

Other appliances

• Turn off appliances at the power point when they are not being used.


• If you have a water bed, make the bed as soon as you get out, covering it completely with a thick quilt or duvet.


• Switch on electric blankets no more than half an hour before you go to bed and switch off just before you are in bed.


• Use a solar pool heater to heat a swimming pool or spa pool.


• Keep the swimming pool temperature less than 27 degrees Celsius.


• Use a timer to turn the filter pump on and off.


• Cover the spa pool with a pool blanket when not in use.


• When going away on holidays, use timers to switch lights and appliances on and off, rather than leaving them on all the time.