The key to reducing your annual energy cost is to learn about energy-saving methods that you can observe right at your home.
Many households are spending too much on their energy bills because they overlooked these 3 simple things:
1. Standby Power
Many appliances in your home are left plugged in but are switched off (often by remote control). These appliances sit in what is known as ‘stand by’ mode and continue to use power even though you think they are off.
Standby power costs the average home up to $100 a year. Switch off at the power point and you could put that money to better use.
Many appliances that still use power if they are not switched off at the power point, include:
- Home entertainment devices such as television, DVD and CD players, set top boxes, gaming consoles, computers, printers, and modems.
- Appliances with transformers such as mobile phone chargers, portable phones, electric toothbrushes, and computer speakers.
- Appliances such as washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers and even some ovens.
Most standby power is wasted energy. Switching off your appliances at the power point will save the energy and your money. If you can’t reach the power point, there are a number of standby saving appliances available.
2. Buying New Appliance
If you are buying a new appliance, it is a great opportunity to invest in a more energy efficient model. But how to compare?
There is a government website that shows all appliances available in Australia and allows you to compare one appliance against another.
Going for the most energy efficient appliance can save you significant amounts of money over the life of the appliance. This is particularly relevant for any appliance that is constantly operating – such as a fridge or freezer.
3. Clothes Drying – Naturally
Avoid using a clothes dryer for your clothes. To successfully dry clothes without a dryer, switch your detergent to a natural one and use vinegar in the final rinse, this helps your clothes to dry faster!
Next, invest in a drying rack, or two. For example, you can buy a floor mounted rack that folds out in amazing ways to allow a full load of washing to be loaded onto it.
Another option is to set up a drying rack on a pulley system that is fitted to your cathedral ceiling. The rack is lowered to allow whoever is on ‘washing duty’ to load the clothes on, then pulled up to allow for drying in an ‘out of the way’ place. It’s a great use for cathedral ceilings!
If you have a story about how you’ve reduced your energy bills, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!
Get access to a thermal comfort that lasts today
A whole home energy assessment will show you exactly what needs to be done first to attain a thermally efficient home. Visit this page to select your ecoHome Assessment. For queries, call ecoMaster on 1300 326 627.
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