A few hints to save on your electricity bill
A few nasty facts:
The amount of energy your house is using is reflected on your power bills, and is generally defined by:
General few tips to combat the above statistics:
Specific tips for heating your house:
Specific tips for cooling your house: I cannot state this enough:
A few nasty facts:
- The average Australian house uses 38% of it’s total energy consumption on heating and cooling.
- Every additional degree on your thermostat adds 5 – 10% to your energy costs.
- Draughts from poorly sealed doors and windows can account for up to 25% of heat/cooling loss.
The amount of energy your house is using is reflected on your power bills, and is generally defined by:
- The dimensions and features of your house, including whether its layout allows natural heating and cooling.
- The amount of large appliances in use, including their energy efficiency rating, and the way you use them.
- The age of your appliances and thus their energy rating.
General few tips to combat the above statistics:
- Roof insulation can save you up to 45% on your heating and cooling costs. So to take the heat out of your bill, make sure your home is well insulated.
- External wall insulation and even installing high insulating windows will further increase energy savings.
- Certainly, these are costly investments into an already established home – if insulation and double-glazed windows are not an option, make sure to keep your home closed on hot days, look into block-out curtains and apply draught stripping to poorly fitted windows and doors to minimise draught.
- Close up your house during the day and open up the windows at night time (in summer)
- Use LED downlights instead on regular lights.
- Use energy-saving light bulbs
- Install solar panels. Although the rebate has lowered, it is still worth installing these for your own electricity bill’s sake.
- Avoid running devices on stand-by.
- Always underestimated- but dress for the season, eg. “layer up” in winter and use cool & breathable materials in the hotter months.
- Use another blanket at night time to keep warm.
- Use ceiling fans instead of the air conditioning,
- Service your air conditioning system.
Specific tips for heating your house:
- Set a rule to only switch on a heater when the temperature drops to a certain level.
- Reduce the usage of portable heaters, these consume a large amount of electricity and add on a large amount of dollars to your electricity bill.
- Turn down your gas heaters to the recommended manufacturer’s level.
Specific tips for cooling your house: I cannot state this enough:
- Use (ceiling) fans. Fans operate at a fraction of the cost of your air conditioning and involve less maintenance.
- If you still run an air conditioners, make sure the outside unit is not facing the sun, otherwise shade it.
- Open your windows at night time.