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Discover some ways to reduce your power consumption when the temperatures drop
Worried your energy bills are going to sky rocket as the days get colder? Don’t panic – there are plenty of easy ways to reduce your power consumption when the temperatures drop. We’ve rounded up five of the best energy saving tips to help you keep warm without breaking the bank.
Stay cosy and save cash with these energy saving tips
How can I reduce my energy bills?” is the question on everyone’s lips when the cold weather strikes. But from “zoning” to shorter showers, cutting your power bills is as simple as thinking smarter.
1. Heat your home efficiently
Heating and cooling can account for 27% of your energy consumption. One of the easiest ways to reduce how much you’re spending on the heating is to make the most of the sun by keeping north facing curtains and blinds open throughout the day to heat up your home naturally.
If you do need to put the heater on, set your heater’s temperature to between 18°C- 20°C. Every degree you can reduce it by will save 5 to 10% in heating costs. NSW Climate and Energy Action also recommends “zoning” your home — only heating the rooms you’ll spend most of your day in – and closing off the doors to the rooms you won’t use to keep that precious heat in.
And, while it might seem obvious, it pays (literally) to layer up – keeping your home at sub-tropical temperatures so you stay in your summer threads is like throwing your hard-earned cash straight out a frosty window.
2. Keep the heat in (without renovating)
Yes, insulation and window glazing are expensive if you don’t already have them installed (and something you can’t do if you rent), but there are a few DIY ways to draught-proof your home and save up 25% in heating costs.
Use door seals, draught proofing strips or doorsnakes to block draughts beneath external doors. To make zoning even more effective, you could draught-proof your internal doors, too.
Up to 40% of heat can be lost through your windows, so double check the seals are doing the job. You can buy self-adhesive, removable window seals from hardware stores if they’re letting in too much cool air. At night, close your curtains and blinds as soon as the sun goes down to keep the warm air in.
3. Power down your appliances
Being smart about heating your home isn’t the only way to reduce your electricity bills – lighting and appliances can suck up a lot of energy.
Switch off lights when you are not in the room, and turn appliances like your washing machine or TV off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby – this uses 1–5% less energy. While you can’t turn off your fridge or freezer, setting your fridge temperature 3C – 4C and your freezer to -15C – -18C can also help you save.
4. Take 4-minute showers
Heating water uses about a third of the average home’s energy consumption. Fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest places to save.
While we know it’s tempting to spend longer in a warm shower when it’s cold out, shorter showers are a quick way to save money – aim for four-minutes, max. Use cold water for your laundry, and only run it when you’ve got a full load. The same goes for your dishwasher.
And finally, if you’re making a cuppa, don’t fill the kettle to the top if you don’t need to.
5. Don’t pay more than you need to
Yes, energy prices are on the rise, but you might not be getting the best deal from the current provider. Check out competitors to see if you could be saving at the source, using the government’s Energy Made Easy tool to compare providers in your area.
Even better? Many energy providers have introductory and sign-up offers for customers looking to switch. Some also offer financial incentives for paying online or via direct debit, or for bundling your gas and electricity accounts.
Stay warm, spend less
Cutting your energy bills this winter doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. With a few smart tweaks around the house – and a quick check of your energy plan – you can stay warm and save money.
Are you looking for other ways to save?