Energy saving tips

 

Using energy more wisely will help you reduce your energy bills, as well as reducing the impact you have on the environment.  Here are just a few energy saving tips for around the home:
 

Cooling

• Use portable or ceiling fans wherever possible
• Keep your shutters, curtains or blinds closed
• Shade windows from the outside with eaves, pergolas, verandah, external blinds, trees or awnings
• Install ceiling insulation
• Consider purchasing a timer to automatically switch your cooling system off at times when you don’t need it
• If you have an air conditioner, set your thermostat to a comfortable 23 to 26 degrees.  Every degree cooler you set the air conditioner adds more to your cooling costs
• Clean the filter element of your air conditioner regularly
• Set your air conditioner to re-circulate mode when cooling

 

Heating

• Cover windows by closing blinds and curtains
• Keep your windows and doors closed
• Make sure your home is well insulated
• Stop draughts getting into your home by covering any openings at the base of doors or in windows
• Use a timer to heat the home only when you are there
• Dress warmly when inside
• Check the temperature of your home is around a comfortable 18 to 21 degrees.  Every degree hotter you set your heating system adds more to your heating costs
• Portable heaters such as bar radiators and fan heaters, are best for small rooms.  They are cheap to buy but costly to run

 

Water heating

• Fix leaking taps. A leaking tap can waste hundreds of litres of water every month
• Fit a low flow showerhead
• Connect appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine to cold water only
• Turn the power off or down on your hot water system if you are going away for an extended period
• A leaking pressure relief valve (on the side of the hot water tank) can waste hundreds of litres of hot water. Check it regularly
• Keep your system well maintained by fixing leaks and insulating tanks and pipes

 

Cooking

• Microwave oven, electric frypans or pressure cookers are much more energy efficient than using the oven
• Keep the oven door completely closed until the food is cooked
• A fan forced oven uses less energy than a conventional oven and baking time is substantially reduced
• Check the oven seals are secure
• Match size of pot to what you are cooking

 

Refrigeration

• Defrost chest type freezers at least once or twice a year and upright models twice or three times a year
• Clean the cooling coils behind the fridge once a year
• Ensure your fridge door seals are airtight
• Leave space around the fridge to allow the heat generated to escape
• Turn off extra fridges when not in use
• Avoid opening the fridge door unnecessarily
• Put your fridge in a cool spot – out of the sun and away from ovens 
• Get rid of the old second fridge, newer fridges use up to 40% less energy

 

Dishwasher

• Run dishwasher only when fully loaded, a half-filled dishwasher uses the same amount of energy as a full load
• Where they are available, use economy or energy saving settings on your dishwasher for maximum energy efficiency
• Let the contents dry naturally

 

Washing and drying clothes

• Use cold water in the laundry whenever possible
• Front loading automatic washing machines use less water than top loading machines
• Wash with a full load
• If it's a sunny day, don't use the dryer and hang your washing outside on the clothesline
• Spin dry the clothes before placing in the dryer 
• Clean the dryer’s lint filter regularly to maintain full air flow, maximise the drying efficiency and minimise fire risk
• Don’t over or under-load dryers

 

 Lighting

• Replace halogen down lights with micro compact fluorescent lights
• Use energy efficient compact fluorescent light globes, they use around 75 per cent less power
• The simplest way to save on lighting is to switch them off in rooms that aren’t being used
• Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor security lights rather than running them continuously
• Make the most of natural lighting, particularly from north facing windows

 

Plug-in appliances (televisions, DVDs, stereos, game consoles, computer equipment)

• Don’t leave plug in appliances on standby power mode, turn them off at the power point as many plug-in appliances are consuming power while performing no function most of the time
• For appliances with a remote control, such as TVs, switch them off at the power button rather than with the remote 
• Consider purchasing a special purpose power board that will eliminate standby power consumption for several appliances with a single switch. These are well suited for home office appliances or entertainment units

 

Buying a new appliance?

The Energy Rating Labels show how efficient the appliance is by the number of stars it has.  The more stars the better.  For more information, go to www.energyrating.gov.au