Energy Saving Tips for the Home

Most of us at some point have suffered from Bill Shock when we have opened the house hold utility bills. We feel sick at the cost of our energy and wonder how on earth we are going to pay the bill and then continue to live with these mounting costs. So here are some tips to help reduce those bills.

Water
- Change your shower heads to energy saving heads that will not only cut down the cost of water but also the cost of energy to heat the water.
- Reduce the lengths of your shower.
- Switch over to solar hot water.
- Set your maximum water temperature to 50 degrees Celsius.
- Wash your clothes in cold water.
- Boil water in an electric kettle using cold water, rather than boiling it on the stove.

Lighting
- Change light globes to LEDs or Compact Fluorescent lights.
- Use lamps for reading rather than ceiling lights.
- Turn lights off when you leave a room.
- Use solar powered lighting or sensor lights outside.
- Put lights on a timer if you are going away so they only come on for a couple of hours at night.

Appliances
- Use energy efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Rating System with the red stars to guide you as to how energy efficient an appliance is.
- Your refrigerator may be aging but still running, however the seals do wear out over time so check to see if they need replacing.
- Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use.
- If you are going away on holidays turn off as many appliances as possible at the wall including TV’s and computers. The fridge should probably be the only appliance left on inside and perhaps the pool filter outside.
- The bigger the appliance the more energy it will use.
- Microwave ovens use less energy and cook faster than a conventional oven.

Heating & Cooling
- Use the thermostat to control the usage.
- Switch off heating and cooling if you are not using a room or are not home.
- Clean the filter of your air conditioner.
- Shut doors to rooms that are not being used.
- Close windows to allow it to run more efficiently.
- Close curtain & blinds when the heating is turned on.
- Close curtains & blinds on very hot days to keep the extreme heat out.
- Turn electric blankets off during the day.
- Don’t leave waterbeds unmade.

Insulation
- Insulate your ceiling. There are a number of different types of insulation on the market. Once you have made your choice, have a professional install it for you.
- If you are renovating or building from scratch consider insulating your walls or under your timber floors.
- Insulation will reduce the need for heating and cooling.

By adopting at least some of these tips you should find a noticeable reduction in your house hold bills and you will be doing your bit for the Environment.

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