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Energy saving tips

Improving your energy efficiency doesn’t have to be difficult. Making small changes, one step at a time, can really add up. Learn more about what contributes to your electricity bill and check out our handy tips below. 

 

What contributes most to your bill?*

You might be surprised to learn what accounts for most of your home's overall energy use. Discover which appliances and systems around the home are the most energy-hungry.

 

A bar graph showing the biggest contributors to an electricity bill in WA

 

Heating and cooling

Heating and cooling your home generally accounts for a large part of your home’s overall energy use. Explore how to improve your energy efficiency with these tips.

  1. Set and forget for the season

    End any thermostat battles in your home by setting your system to 24°C in summer and 18°C to 20°C in winter. These are comfortable temperatures in both seasons, especially compared to the conditions outside!

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Enjoy a fresh start

    The start of a new season makes the perfect time to review your energy use and efficiency. Start by making sure your heating and cooling is set up to run efficiently for the conditions ahead.

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Choose the right size for your home

    Make sure your heating and cooling system or appliance is the right solution for the size of your home and your lifestyle. If it’s too large, it could be wasting energy - and if it’s too small, it could be working harder than it is designed to operate.

    Effort: A bit of effort

  4. Don't crank your air-con

    It’s more energy efficient to heat or cool your house slowly over time, instead of cranking your air conditioner up or down.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  5. Use your tech

    If you have an air-con system which you can run through an app - learn how to use it! You could set it to cool or warm your house slowly before you get home or before you even get out of bed in the morning, rather than cranking it.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  6. Seal the cold or warm air in

    Use a door snake - or even a rolled-up towel - to help stop air escaping from under your doors.

     

    Effort: Easy enough

  7. Use a pedestal or ceiling fan

    Fans are a much more energy-efficient way to stay cool and keep the air moving, compared to air-conditioning.

    Effort: Some effort

  8. Book in a service

    Having your heater and air-conditioner serviced could help you to keep it running efficiently. Check with your manufacturer for recommendations.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  9. Add a layer

    When the weather is getting chilly, reach for a jumper, hoodie or your favourite wearable blanket before you decide to switch on the heating.

    Effort: Easy enough

  10. Sun in, sun out

    In winter, open your blinds or curtains in the middle of the day to let the warm sun in. In summer, use your blinds or curtains to block out the sun’s heat.

    Effort: Easy enough

  11. Get warm and cosy

    On cold winter nights, rug up with some warm PJs and your favourite throw rug. At bedtime, try a few extra blankets instead of an electric one.

    Effort: Easy enough

  12. Electric blanket on, room heater off

    Once you’re in your warm bed, you probably don’t need to heat the whole room.

     

    Effort: Some effort

Audio visual

With these energy tips, you could become more energy efficient by making small changes that are quick and easy to adopt.

  1. Have a TV-free dinner

    Switch off and have dinner without the TV. You could use the time to catch up with your family or even plan some new energy efficient habits together!

    Effort: some effort

  2. Use your solar

    If you have solar power, use the daylight hours to charge your devices. If you’re not home during the day, you could charge up a portable charger using your solar energy, then plug your devices into your portable charger overnight.

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Care for your consoles

    Your gaming devices and consoles probably don’t need to stay on charge or standby at all times. Switch off at the wall when you can and you could save energy.

    Effort: Some effort

  4. Host a games night

    Book in a tech-free games night with your friends or family once a month. You’ll have fun and could reduce your energy use by switching off your devices.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  5. Beware of standby power

    It’s simple: standby mode uses energy. Switch off your TV, set top box and consoles at the wall when you don’t need them.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  6. Choose the right TV

    When it’s time for a new TV, check the energy-star ratings. Options with more stars could cost more upfront but these are also likely to cost less to run in the longer term.

    Effort: Some effort

  7. Switch off your charger

    When your phone or tablet has finished charging, turn off the charger. Chargers can still use electricity when they’re not charging anything.

    Effort: Easy enough

Refrigeration

Discover some tips that could help you make a big difference to the running costs of your fridge.

  1. Set an energy-efficient temp

    Your fridge temperature should be below 5°C and your freezer should be set between -15°C and -18°C. For every degree colder, you could increase your running costs. 

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Check your fridge seals

    Keeping cold air sealed inside means your fridge doesn’t need to work so hard. If you can slip a $5 note between the fridge and the door, you should consider replacing the seals to help keep that cold air in.

    Effort: Easy enough

  3. Clean the back of your fridge

    Give the condenser coil a quick vacuum or brush to remove any dust build up. Follow manufacturer's instructions. This could help your fridge to run more efficiently.

    Effort: Some effort

  4. Defrost your freezer

    If the ice in your freezer is thicker than 5mm, defrosting it can improve energy efficiency.

    Effort: Some effort

  5. Don't under or overfill your fridge or freezer

    Strike the right balance with your meal prep and grocery habits. Cooling sparse shelves is not energy efficient, but overcrowded shelves will generally take more energy to cool.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  6. Rethink your second fridge

    Having a second fridge could cost you more than you think. It could be worth switching off or selling your second fridge.

    Effort: Easy enough

  7. Meal prep efficiently

    Thaw frozen food in your fridge instead of using your microwave. It will take longer, so you need to plan ahead, but it’s more energy efficient.

    Effort: Easy enough

  8. Know your next move

    The longer you stand there with your fridge or freezer door open, the more cold air will escape. Try to work out what you need to grab before you open the door.

    Effort: Easy enough

Laundry and other

Learn how you could use less energy (and maybe even use less water) in your laundry, bathroom and pool, if you have one.

  1. Use your clothesline

    Clothes dryers can use a lot of energy. Drying your clothes outside on a rack or clothesline could help you to save electricity and enjoy some fresh air in the process!

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Put the sun to work

    If you have solar panels, try to run your washing machine and other appliances during the day when you can. This will help you to make the most of the energy produced by your solar system.

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Keep your lint filter clear

    To keep your clothes dryer running efficiently, clean the lint filter after each load. 

    Effort: Easy enough

  4. Use a cold water wash

    Using the cold water cycle on your washing machine could help to reduce the amount of electricity it uses. Check your clothing labels for recommendations.

    Effort: Easy enough

  5. Look for a good star-rating

    Front loaders are generally more energy efficient than top loaders. Check the energy ratings before you decide. The higher the star-rating, the lower the running costs are likely to be.

    Effort: Some effort

  6. Put your pool pump on a timer

    If you have a pool, your pump will use a fair bit of energy. See if you can run it on a timer to reduce your energy use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

    Effort: Some effort

Lighting

Easy ways you could reduce your electricity use without stumbling in the dark.

  1. Don't light empty rooms

    Make a plan with your family or housemates to each switch the lights off if you’re the last to leave a room.

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Use energy-saving light bulbs

    If you still have any incandescent bulbs left at home, swap them for energy efficient LED ones.

    Effort: Easy enough

  3. Embrace mood lighting

    When you don’t need to light up the whole room, use a lamp instead or dimmer switch if available.

    Effort: Easy enough

  4. Light up with solar

    Solar lights look great and they’re easy to install outside with the mini solar panel positioned in a sunny spot to charge.

    Effort: Some effort

  5. Use motion sensor lights outdoors

    Don’t worry about leaving your outdoor lights on - let the motion sensor do the work switching those lights on and off.

    Effort: Easy enough

  6. Switch off outside

    When you’ve finished for the night, make sure you switch off your shed and garage lights too.

    Effort: Easy enough

Working from home

With some simple strategies, you can set up your home office to use less electricity.

  1. Beware of vampire energy

    Appliances and equipment in standby mode can drain energy, so switch them off at the wall when you can.

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Let the stars decide

    The energy star rating is an easy way to quickly see how energy efficient your home office equipment is. The more stars, the less it is likely to cost to run.

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Use power-saver mode

    Your PC and laptop probably have an eco-saver power setting. Set this for a shorter time so your screen switches off soon after you stop using it.

    Effort: Easy enough

  4. Plan your work day

    Work out what you need to do and what you need for the day so you can switch printers, scanners and other equipment off at the wall when you’re not using them. You could put these devices on a separate power board so you can turn them off when you need your computer on.

    Effort: Some effort

  5. Light your workspace

    Let in natural light when you can - or consider using a lamp rather than lighting up the whole room.

    Effort: Easy enough

  6. Screen for efficiency

    Screen size matters. The bigger your screen, generally the more electricity it is likely to need, so choose the right size for your needs.

    Effort: Easy enough

Hot water

There’s nothing like a hot shower - but you might not have considered how heating the water could be adding to your energy bills. These tips could help you reduce your energy and water use.

  1. Check your hot water thermostat

    The most energy efficient temperature for your hot water system is usually 60ºC.

    Effort: Easy enough

  2. Give your hot water system a holiday

    When you go away, consider turning your hot water system off so it’s not using electricity while you’re away. Always check the manual for manufacturer's recommendations. Remember to set yourself a reminder to switch it back on when you get home!

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Use your hot water tech

    If your hot water system has a timer, you could reduce the electricity it uses by lowering the temperature during certain times of the day.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  4. Consider solar power hot water systems

    A solar hot water system will use the sun’s energy to heat your water, which means you could use less electricity to heat your water.

    Effort: Some effort

  5. Use a cold water connection for your dishwasher

    Your dishwasher is likely to heat the water during the washing process. A cold water connection could help you to save on water heating costs.

    Effort: Some effort

  6. Try shorter showers

    Every minute your shower runs is another minute of water use and water heating costs. Commit to shorter showers and you could improve your energy efficiency and reduce your water use.

    Effort: A bit more effort

Kitchen

Whether you’re a fully-fledged foodie or more of a cheese-on-toast maker, these tips could help you enjoy a more energy-efficient kitchen.

  1. Set your dishwasher timer

    If you have solar power, set your dishwasher to come on during the day when your solar energy production is high. That way, you can make the most of your solar energy rather than relying on the grid if your dishwasher runs overnight.

    Effort: A bit more effort

  2. Clean your dishwasher filter

    Your dishwasher cleans dishes, not itself. Keeping the filter clean will help it to run in the most efficient way.

    Effort: Some effort

  3. Pack a full load

    Running your dishwasher with a full load is the most energy efficient way to use it.

    Effort: Easy enough

  4. Choose the right pots and pans

    Use pots and pans with tight fitting lids and flat bases which cover the entire hotplate. This will help you to prevent energy loss during the cooking process.

    Effort: Some effort

  5. Enjoy the great outdoors

    Give your electric appliances a break and use your BBQ to cook dinner one night a week.

    Effort: Easy enough

  6. Consider an upgrade

    If you’ve had your fridge or dishwasher for a while, there’s probably a more energy-efficient model available today. When it’s time for an upgrade, check the energy star ratings.

    Effort: Some effort

  7. Save boiling power

    Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need. If you fill it each time and don’t use it all, the water you don’t use will just get cold and need to be heated again.

    Effort: Easy enough

  8. Don't charge 24/7

    Chargers can slowly leak energy when they are left on. Switch them off at the wall when you’re not charging up.

    Effort: Easy enough

  9. Clean your rangehood or exhaust fan

    Removing grease from the vents will keep your rangehood running efficiently.

    Effort: Some effort

  10. Check your oven seal

    Heat can escape from your oven seal, which could mean your oven uses more electricity. Check your oven seal is in good condition and replace if needed.

    Effort: Some effort

  11. Use your oven window

    If you want to check your masterpiece-in-the-making, look through the window rather than opening the oven door. Each time you open the door, hot air escapes which means your oven needs to use more energy to heat up again.

    Effort: Easy enough

  12. Put your air fryer to work

    Since your air fryer is compact and doesn’t need a lot of preheating time, it’s likely to use less electricity than your oven. Consider what you can cook in your air fryer when you’re planning your meals.

    Effort: Easy enough

  13. Make the most of your microwave

    Your microwave is likely to use a lot less energy than your oven, so use it for cooking and reheating when you can.

    Effort: Some effort

  14. Switch the microwave off at the wall

    When your microwave is on standby, it’s just an expensive clock. Only switch it on when you need it.

    Effort: Some effort

*Just remember the age, model and use of your appliances will affect the impact they have on your electricity costs and energy use. All the values and amounts referred to in these energy saving tips are based on averages and are indicative only. 

 

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