If you looked at your last energy bill in disbelief, you’re not alone. For most Australians, energy costs are now one of the biggest items on the list of household bills. Continuous hikes in electricity tariffs have pushed bills upwards year after year. Australians pay $0.50 per kWh, compared to the European Union average around $0.30 per kWh and US prices between $0.10 and $0.2.
Sure there are different energy suppliers and many tempting promotional offers. But, they’re often confusing and difficult to compare. As a result, around 80 percent of households stick with the big three suppliers. Is there another way to cut the bills? Take costs into your own hands by following our simple energy saving tips.
Our top energy saving tips
Switch it off
First up is one of the easiest changes. Just turn off all those appliances when you’re not using them. Leaving the TV, computer and many other appliances on standby is convenient, but that means each appliance is still consuming energy and costing you money. Same with lights; if you don’t need them, turn them off. And, while we’re on the subject, are you still using those old fashioned incandescent light bulbs. Changing to energy-efficient LED bulbs could save you $16 a year on every light.
Become an energy star
Now you’ve got the energy-saving habit, start looking around for more savings. Are you thinking about replacing your washing machine, oven or fridge? Before you buy, make sure the model you choose has an ENERGY STAR rating. Your washing machine energy consumption could drop by 25 percent and you’ll use less water too. For fridges, the savings aren’t so big – around 9 percent less energy – but they still help cut the overall bill.
Stay out of hot water
Talking of water, here’s an area where you could make savings in different ways. Okay, you need hot water for washing and cleaning, but could you use less? A shower will take less hot water than a bath. Do you need to hand wash dishes every time you use them? Heating water is a big energy guzzler.
As well as using less hot water, check your hot water tank. Are the tank and the pipes insulated? You won’t have to use so much energy keeping the water hot because the insulation prevents the heat from escaping.
How old is your water heater? Modern water heaters are designed to be energy efficient, giving you another opportunity for big savings. Make sure it has a thermostat so you can control the temperature and the times when it’s operating.
Keep it in the home
Make those improvements in water heating and you’ll reduce your winter heating bills too. In colder territories that could make a big difference. To make the savings even bigger, check the insulation in your home. The biggest heat losses are through the roof, windows and doors in that order, which can be solved through home improvement. Insulating the loft is a good way to keep the heat in and heating bills down by around 20 percent.
Double-glazing windows is another big saver, and make sure your doors don’t have big gaps that let heat escape. Air conditioning doesn’t contribute so much to energy savings, but you can still cut some dollars. Keeping doors and windows closed is a must, and pulling down the shades can help keep the home cool without pushing the air conditioning system too hard. If the temperature outside is reasonable, you might find it costs less to use ceiling fans instead.
Get smarter
So far, we’ve covered some common things you can do to keep energy bills down, but more and more people are turning to smart solutions to get to the next level. For a start, ask your energy company to fit a smart meter. That way you can check what you’re spending day-by-day. And, you can see how much energy you use each time you switch on an appliance. You’ll get some real surprises and soon become very energy conscious!
Check your supplier’s pricing plans too. If they offer off-peak tariffs, start planning your daily cooking, washing and heating routines around the lowest-cost times. Maybe reserve baking, water heating or clothes and dishwashing for off-peak times. Using appliances off-peak could save $100 a year. Of course, the ultimate smart solution is a smart home where windows close, heating and lighting come on and off, and appliances are switched off automatically. Something to work towards; but, for now, there are plenty of simple changes you can make to start bringing those bills down.
Get in touch with us at Maxwell Sparx
Don’t forget, if you need to have any electrical work done to make those savings, make sure the work is carried out by qualified electricians. It’s not just safer; your electrician can advise you on the best and most efficient way to make your home more energy efficient.
We specialise in both residential and commercial lighting and power across Sydney. For more information, please contact us on 0418 649 254 or email our friendly team at samuel@maxwellsparx.com.