Here are some energy-saving tips for your home.
Reduce your energy use, improve comfort, efficiency and most importantly save money.
Smart ways to save by understanding your energy usage
Heating and Cooling
Every degree of extra cooling may increase your energy consumption by approximately 5% to 10%. Here are some other helpful tips.
- After a hot day, open your windows or useventilation fans to let the hot air out.
- Use your air con for an hour less on hot days.
- Use your ceiling fans for twice as long as yourair con on days when it hits 28°C or more.
- Set some ground rules – try just using your aircon when the temperature goes over 28°C.
- Close off areas that don't need to be heated or cooled.
- Set your air conditioner to an energy-efficient 22-24°C in summer and seal gaps and close doors, windows and curtains to cool or heat rooms quicker and keep them at a comfortable temperature for longer.
Heating your home efficiently is essential for staying comfortable during the cooler months while also managing your energy bills. In South East Queensland, where temperatures can dip unexpectedly, finding ways to keep your home warm without overusing energy can make a significant difference. Here are some practical tips to help you heat your home more efficiently and save on energy costs.
- Keep your thermostat between 18–20°C. Each degree over 20°C uses about 5–10% more energy+.
- Switch your ceiling fan on when using the heater. Hot air rises, and the fan will push it back down to keep you warm. Remember to set it to winter mode, which reverses the direction to spin clockw
- Only heat the rooms you use most.
- Seal up gaps and cracks in walls, doors, windows and floors.
- Stop drafts coming in under the door by usinga draft stopper.
Lighting and Applicances
Standby power accounts can account for over 3% of total energy use in the average home and can cost more than $100 a year. To reduce this, try switching off the following appliances at the wall when you’re not using them.
- TV, DVD player, set-top box, and game console
- Home office equipment, such as desktop computers, modems, and printers
- Microwave, washing machine, and clothes dryer
Even better, unplug these devices when they're not in use. Many appliances draw standby power even when they’re switched off. The biggest culprits are air conditioners, TVs, home entertainment equipment, and computers. By taking these simple steps, you can significantly cut down on your energy consumption and save money.
Most homes could reduce the amount of energy they use for lighting by 50 per cent or more by making smarter lighting choices and moving to more efficient technologies.
- If you have halogen or compact fluorescent lights in your home, switching to LEDs is a simple way to save energy and reduce your lighting costs. LED bulbs use less power and last longer, making them a more efficient and cost-effective choice for your home lighting needs.
- Get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.
- If you don’t need much light, use lamps or spotlights instead of lighting the whole room.
Fridges and freezers make up around 8% of household energy use. To ensure they operate efficiently, set your fridge temperature between 3-4°C and your freezer between -15°C and -18°C. Checking that your fridge and freezer aren’t too cold is important, as every extra degree colder uses about 5% more energy.
Did you know that fridges work better when there’s good airflow, while freezers are more efficient when airflow is limited? To help your freezer operate more efficiently, you can add bottles of water to fill up any empty space. For your fridge, leave a bit of space around items to maximise airflow. These simple adjustments can help you save energy and reduce your household costs.
Using small appliances whenever possible can significantly reduce your energy bill. Here are some simple ideas to help you make smarter choices in the kitchen.
- Use the microwave over the oven - Microwaves are more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, especially for heating smaller portions or quick meals.
- Opt for the toaster instead of the grill - When you need to make toast, using a toaster is much more energy-efficient than using the grill.
- Boil water in the kettle instead of the hotplate - Kettles heat water more quickly and efficiently than hotplates. Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need to save even more energy.
Here are a few more tips to maximise your energy savings in the kitchen:
- Match your pot size to your stove element: Using a pot that matches the size of the stove element ensures that heat is used efficiently and not wasted.
- Keep a lid on simmering pots: This can reduce your energy use by up to 70%, as the lid helps to retain heat and cook food faster.
- Turn off the hotplate early: Use the residual heat to finish cooking your food, which can save energy and prevent overcooking.
By incorporating these small changes into your daily routine, you can make a big difference in your energy consumption and enjoy lower energy bills.
Hot Water
Using an energy-efficient washing machine and selecting the cold wash option can save a lot of power in the laundry. This not only lowers your bills significantly but also reduces your carbon footprint. By making these simple choices, you contribute to a more sustainable environment while enjoying the benefits of cost savings.
- Choose an energy efficient washing machine and clothes dryer to lower your energy bills.
- Hanging clothes out on the line instead of using the dryer should always be the first option after all, it’s free!
- If you have to use your clothes dryer, don’t overload it as your clothes will take longer todry, using more electricity.
- Wash a full load instead of many smaller load
- Clean the lint filter after you use the dryer to maintain energy efficiency and keep your dryer safe.
Don’t pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers do a superb job of cleaning even heavily soiled dishes. Scrape off food and empty liquids—the dishwasher will do the rest. If you must rinse dishes first, at least use cold water.
- If you use a dishwasher, wait until it’s full before turning it on.
- Select the cycle with the lowest temperatureor shortest running time to get the job done.
- Use economy drying options if available – or tryswitching off the dishwasher before the dryingcycle starts and let the dishes air dry
Showering and bathing are essential parts of our daily routines, but they can also be significant contributors to household energy use. By adopting energy-efficient practices, you can reduce your energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.
Whether it’s making small adjustments to your habits or investing in energy-saving fixtures, there are many ways to make your showering and bathing routines more efficient. Here are some tips to help you save energy and lower your utility bills while enjoying a refreshing and relaxing experience.
- Use a timer to halve your shower time from 8 to 4 minutes.
- Replace your standard shower head with a water-efficient showerhead.
- Turn off your hot water system or set it to 'vacation' mode when you go on holiday to save energy.
