No one enjoys spending their hard-earned cash on electricity bills. From cooling and heating to running appliances and charging your mobile phone, it’s easy to lose track of how much electricity you are really using.
Luckily there are some simple tricks you can start applying today to cut down on your power use and make those power bills slightly easier to stomach.
1. Shop around
Price comparison websites aren’t just for insurance or making sure you get the best deal on your holiday. Before committing to an energy provider, use them as a tool for figuring out who can offer you the best deal. Many companies have discounts in place for customers who pay on time or via direct debit. This is essentially a reward for making their lives easier.
Once you’ve done your homework, give your existing provider a call and ask them to match the best offer you’ve found. While they can’t change the rates, they can often be talked into giving you a better discount.
Be polite but firm – they’d likely rather keep you as a customer than see you switch.
If you have moved home and are shopping around for a new provider, make sure you really are getting the best deal. Don’t get sucked into a tempting introductory discount with a limited benefit period that will see the cost of your bills shoot up over time.
2. Use your air-conditioning and heating properly
It’s estimated that 40 per cent of household energy use goes on heating and cooling, making it the biggest strain on your budget.
If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, it could be well worth the investment. When heating or cooling your home, you can set it to the desired temperature. It will automatically click off once it’s reached.
You can also program it to switch on shortly before you get up in the morning or before you get home at night. This way you won’t be wasting money on heating or cooling an empty house.
Tips for cooling
Firstly, make sure everything is in good working order. Give the unit a thorough hose down to clear any dirt and check that the vents are all open.
Change your filter every month or two, as clogged filters will obstruct the normal airflow.
Next, it’s important to check your ducts are properly insulated. If there are gaps, it means some of that nicely cooled air is getting wasted.
Tips for heating
Before you crank up your heater, take the time to check the weatherstripping around your home.
Around 7 to 12 per cent of a home’s heat escapes through windows and doors, so it’s important to replace any worn stripping to keep draught out.
By the same token, it makes sense to plug any exterior holes around pipes or electrical boxes. Invest in a small, portable heater and place it in the lounge in the evenings. Of course it still uses electricity, but you’ll only be heating the one room as opposed to the others, which are getting less use.
If you have an attic, you could be losing a lot of heat through it. If you’re not the original homeowner, it’s worth getting an expert in to check the insulation.
3. Use a smart meter
If you don’t already have one, call your energy provider and ask about getting a smart meter installed. These measure how much electricity a household uses at 30-minute intervals. Once you’re armed with the details, you will have a better overview of when you spend the most and where you can cut back.
Smart meters also send the information directly to your provider, meaning estimated bills (which can charge you for more than you’re using) are a thing of the past.
It could also be worth looking into apps that help you monitor your power consumption. Energy cost calculators and apps that connect to your thermostat allow you to control your heating from your phone.
4. Optimise your use of appliances
It’s a mistake to think you are being thrifty by running that old refrigerator or washing machine rather than buying a new one.
Modern models use far less energy. Once you’ve upgraded, it’s time to make sure that you’re using them efficiently. Here are our top tips:
Refrigerator and freezer
It’s always running, so it’s no big surprise that your refrigerator is pushing the cost of your bill up. But there are ways you can reduce the amount of energy it uses.
Keep your fridge set between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius and your freezer between minus 11 and minus 26 degrees Celsius. Any lower and your energy use – and therefore bills – will go up.
You’ll also want to make sure that you’re regularly defrosting your freezer. The more frost, the harder your fridge is working, meaning the more it’s costing you. It’s also important to keep it fully stocked. An almost-empty refrigerator allows more warm air to enter when you open the door, therefore making your fridge work harder to get back down to temperature.
If you’re running a second fridge or freezer, ask yourself whether you really need it. Drinks can be stored at room temperature and chilled a few hours before serving, freeing up space.
Washing machine
Always make sure you wash a full load to cut down on the number of times you have to run your machine.
It helps to do your washes off-peak, usually from 8pm, when electricity prices are lower. Switch to a cold-water detergent and start doing your laundry at 30 degrees Celsius or lower.
This setting is perfectly adequate for day-to-day clothes. You only need to crank up the temperature for very dirty garments such as workout gear, towels and bedding.
Afterwards, use the clothesline or an indoor drying rack rather than the tumble dryer.
Dishwasher
Just got the evening’s dinner plates to wash up? Don’t resort to switching on the dishwasher. Instead, fill a bowl with warm water and soap and do the washing up the old-fashioned way – by hand!
Only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full and save water by not rinsing plates first. Just as with the washing machine, run the dishwasher at off-peak times.
5. Unplug your devices
You’d be amazed by how much money you’re wasting keeping your appliances plugged in.
Energy Australia estimates that up to 10 per cent of your energy bill could be made up of standby power costs.
Devices such as your TV and games consoles don’t need to be connected to power when you’re not using them. To make things easier, plug entertainment devices into an extension lead, so they can all be turned off in one swoop.
Even small appliances like toasters and kettles still drain some energy when they’re plugged in but not in use. Make it a habit to switch them off at the wall when you’re done with them.
Never put your laptop ‘to sleep’ – instead, power it down completely, otherwise it will continue to drain energy.
Another common mistake people make is leaving phone chargers plugged in and turned on at the switch. Electricity will keep flowing through the chargers, which is wasteful when there is no phone connected to the other end.
You could also try to limit the time spent on electronic devices in the evening. Turning off the TV and going for a walk or playing a board game with your family will not only cut costs but also benefit your wellbeing.
6. Be savvy when heating and cooling
You’re already doing all you can to stop your air-conditioning and heating from working too hard. But have you considered that sometimes you might not need them at all?
You don’t always need to use electricity to reach a comfortable temperature. Layer up with blankets and thermal socks when you’re feeling chilly and seal any cracks in windows or under doors.
In summer, you can keep the house cool by ensuring you close all the blinds and curtains during the day – this is especially important if you plan to put the air-conditioning on later as it won’t have to work as hard to cool the room.
Fans are also a lower energy option during the warmer months, so think about investing in some for the rooms you use the most.
7. Make smart lighting choices
At risk of sounding like your parents: turn the lights out when you’re not in the room! Now that we’re all adults, we can finally understand why our folks would get so het up about this – unnecessary lighting is wasted money!
With lighting accounting for about 5 per cent of your electricity bill, it also makes sense to think about the kind of bulbs you’re using. But with so many on offer, it can get confusing.
The three most commonly available bulbs are halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Halogen incandescents are by far the cheapest but they use far more energy, costing you more in the long run. Instead, switch to a CFL or LED bulb, which will pay for itself over time.
CFLs last about 10 times longer than Halogen incandescents, while LEDs last up to 25 times longer.
That means you won’t be running to the shop to replace them anytime soon.
You should also make the most of any natural light you have. Think about installing skylights if you have the option and keep blinds and curtains open on cooler days.
8. Cook clever
The kitchen is another place where you can save a significant amount of money.
Ovens are a big drain on electricity, so avoid using them when you can. Microwaves are far more energy efficient and work well for quickly heating food.
When you do need to use the oven, preheat it only once the food is ready to go in. You’ll be wasting money if it’s ready and running while you’re still chopping! You could also turn the oven off a few minutes early. It will still be hot enough to finish cooking your food.
It also pays to check the seals on your oven and refrigerator. If there are any gaps, they will be working much harder to get to temperature. You can do this by taking a piece of paper and sliding it through the seal. If it moves in and out easily, try adjusting the door. If that fails, you’ll need to replace the seals.
Other ways you can cut down include defrosting food before cooking it and using lids on pots and pans when cooking on the stove. This way, you’ll need less power to get your food piping hot.
If you’re preparing a hot drink, use a kettle rather than a pot on the stove. They have a heating element that comes directly into contact with the water, therefore losing less heat.
9. Take cooler, shorter showers
Having a nice, hot shower can be relaxing after a long day at work. But heating water is very expensive.
Try taking a colder shower in the mornings. It has the added benefit of making you feel more awake and alert!
Cutting down your shower time can also have big benefits. Try sticking to five minutes or under. You’ll not only be saving water but also power, which is needed to heat it.
10. Get everyone on board
The above tips will only work if everyone in your household gets involved.
Have a chat with your family or flatmates and take a look together at the areas you need to crack down on.
Using post-it notes around the house can help you remember until it becomes a habit.
A good tip for keeping kids on track is by spending the money you’re saving on little treats for the whole family. That way, they’ll have an incentive for turning those lights off!
Do you have any other tips on saving electricity? Comment below: