A wallet-friendly guide to transforming your house into an eco-friendly habitat

It’s time to let the washing hang out!

Many of us these days rely heavily on clothes dryers to get our laundry done in the shortest amount of time possible. Whilst clothes dryers are indeed extremely convenient and time-saving, they are also high energy consuming appliances to have in your household. The average dryer costs you about 50 cents per load of laundry, which can add up to quite a hefty sum throughout the year especially if you have a large family. A simple, cost efficient and eco friendly way to dry your clothes would be to simply hang them up on clotheslines and let the sunshine do its work. If you really need to use the dryer, try to limit its usage to the colder seasons when the sun may not shine in abundance.

- Invest in an outdoor heater

Choosing an energy efficient heater is a fantastic way of keeping your home toasty all year round. Energy efficient outdoor radiant heaters are one of the most effective and preferred way to heat an outdoor or difficult to hear indoor area. Unlike the more common traditional convection heaters, electric panel wall heaters heat people or objects, not just the surrounding air. In outdoor areas, hot air is blown away, while in open indoor areas, the hot air rises to the ceiling or is lost via ventilation. Such outdoor heaters can comfortably and energy-efficiently provide direct heat for you, your family and your guests.

- Replace items only on a need-to basis

Many older washing machines and appliances often don’t have the best energy ratings, but that certainly does not mean that you have to throw it out and buy a new one. Excess waste is a huge contributor to the destruction of our planet so always do your research in order to find out if you are going to leave a bigger negative carbon footprint by throwing away something that is still fully functional, rather than using it until it needs replacing. This also applies to things such as carpeting, curtains, furniture and household appliances. If it still works, keep it!

- Keep an eye out for government rebates

Did you know that you can head over to Your Energy Savings to see what kind of energy savings and government rebates are available to you in your state? Taking some time to have a look at this website can help you save loads of money and transition into more eco-friendly living as there are many energy saving schemes listed, including shower-head exchanges, feed-in tariffs, and incentives.

- Purchase energy efficient appliance

If you are a new homeowner, or need to buy appliances because your older ones have gone bust, always ensure that you compare the energy efficiency between various brands and models of the appliances you need to buy. The higher the Energy Rating of an appliance, the more energy efficient they are and the less they contribute to your carbon footprint. Not only will you be saving money in the long run, you’ll also be saving the planet!

- Collect rainwater

This may sound absurd, but collecting rain water is one of the best ways you and your family can save on water usage and costs. Collected rainwater can be used to water your potted plants and garden. You will be surprised as to how much freshwater is actually used by each household just to water their gardens alone - why not use a free resource that the sky has blessed us with instead?