Winter Energy Saving Tips
Winter Energy Saving Tips
Here’s how you can save money on your home energy bills this winter.
Reduce General Energy Usage In The Home
1. Considering your energy use and patterns such as tariffs and appliances, and utilise appliances during off-peak periods as often as possible
2. Switching to LED lamps and practicing “task lighting” by using light only when required
3. Consider having movement and presence detectors installed in high traffic areas in the home such as bathrooms and hallways
4. Consider having solar hot water systems with an electric boost on off-peak tariffs installed
Retain Heat
1. Cover your windows with blinds or shades of thick dark fabric to retain heat within the house or room
2. Consider home insulation to assist in the retention of heat (this will also help to reflect heat in the summer)
3. Prevent external draughts from entering rooms, with old fashioned draught stoppers on external doors. You can also check the seals in your windows, to ensure draughts aren’t entering through any holes
4. Layer up your clothing for personal warmth, and keep a throw rug handy in the lounge room to use before turning on a heater
When Doing The Laundry
1.Utilise the clothes line to dry laundry instead of the electric dryer which is costly and chews through energy quickly
2. Use cold water in washing machines
In The Kitchen
1. Use the appropriate cookware on stove tops
2. Do not use the microwave to heat water in mugs, a kettle is the more economical option
3. Ensure your oven glass is clean and the light is in working order to prevent excessive opening and closing of the oven door
4. Check your fridge seals to make sure there are no leakages, and increase your fridge temperature by one or two degrees
Appliances
1. When using heaters or air conditioners, set the temperature at 24° Celsius
2. Use ceiling fans (if fitted) in reverse – there is a switch on the bell housing
3. Use solar powered lamps for decorative garden lighting
4. Have your electric blankets checked before use to ensure they are in good working order
5. Consider using your laptop or notebook for updates rather than a large CPU
6. Set your laptop or notebook screen saver to blank
7. Recharge or have certain appliances put on off-peak tariffs
