DIY Your Way to Lower Energy Bills: Uncover Surprising Savings

With the cost of living on the rise, finding ways to save on your energy bills has never been more important.   The problem is that many households are unaware of how much energy they use and where they use it, leading to higher bills and unnecessary energy waste. 

So, after 20+ years of experience in assessing homes for thermal energy efficiency, we want to create a step by step guide on how to do this for yourself! 

The first step is to get a handle on your current energy consumption.  There are a number of ways to do that, but we will keep focused on what we can achieve now.  And, we are going to need an assistant to help us along the way.  

Introducing the Power-Mate – a simple, effective tool for identifying energy-guzzlers and making informed decisions to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. 

Let’s get started!

1. Why Use a Power-Mate?

• Understand Your Energy Use: The Power-Mate measures how much electricity each measured appliance is consuming.  This helps to identify hidden energy wasters; and if you are trying to track down a huge energy bill – start here! 
• Save Money: Knowing which devices are costing you the most allows you to make smarter decisions about usage or replacement, or even if you really turn that appliance on, or not at all (looking at you “drinks fridge in the garage”!!!)
• Reduce Carbon Footprint: Lowering your energy consumption isn’t just good for your wallet—it’s great for the planet.

Prevent Overloading Circuits: The Power-Mate can help you check if an appliance is drawing too much power, protecting your home from electrical hazards.

2. What is a Power-Mate?

• Overview: A portable, user-friendly device that plugs BETWEEN your appliance and your power point.  It measures the consumption of energy over time.
• Key Features:
• Displays power usage in watts (W) and kilowatts (kWh).
• Shows operating costs based on electricity rates.
• Measures voltage, current, and power factor for detailed insights.
• Rental Options:
• Check with your local library to see if they are lending “Sustainability Kits” that  contain a Power-Mate.  Whilst these are free, sometimes the wait times can be very long.  🙁 
• ecoMaster offers a convenient rental service for Victorian householders, so homeowners can use the device very cost effectively.  Click here to find out more.

3. How to Use a Power-Mate

Before you start, the Power-Mate will test appliances that have an electrical plug.  No, you cannot test hard wired appliances for energy consumption. 🙁   That means you can’t test most hot water systems and many air conditioning systems for their power usage.

What you CAN test is anything that plugs in – that includes your fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, entertainment unit, heaters, fans etc. You need to be able to plug your appliance into the Power-Mate and then the Power-Mate plugs into the power point in the wall.

Step 1: What Can You Test 

• Walk around your home and write a list of all your plug in appliances. 
• Work out what your cost of electricity is (you will get this from your energy bill).  
• Be mindful of WHEN you use each appliance because it may mean that appliances are running at peak tariff time and may be very expensive to run.  

Step 2:  Set Up the Device

• Go to your first appliance. 
• Plug the Power-Mate into a wall socket.
• Plug the appliance you want to test into the Power-Mate.

Step 2: Record Key Readings

Use a simple table to record the following:

• Appliance Name
• Power Usage (Watts) – Displays the immediate power draw of the appliance.
• Energy Consumption (kWh) – Tracks how much energy the appliance uses over time.

Cost Estimate ($) – Input your electricity rate to see how much the appliance costs to run.

Example Table for Recordings:

Step 3: Test Appliances in Different Modes

• Check devices on standby vs. in-use mode (e.g., TVs, computers).
• Measure appliances that cycle on and off (e.g. fridges, heaters) over a period of 24 hours. 

4. What to Do with that Information

Analyse Your Findings

• Identify Energy Hogs: Highlight the appliances using the most energy.
• Check Standby Power: Look for appliances drawing unnecessary power when not in use.
• Prioritise Replacements: Focus on upgrading older, inefficient appliances.

Create an Action Plan

• Switch Off and Unplug: Turn off devices at the wall when not in use.
• Upgrade to Efficient Models: Replace energy-hungry appliances with energy-efficient alternatives.
• Optimise Usage Times: Use energy-intensive devices during off-peak hours if you’re on a time-of-use electricity plan.
• Read other’s success:  If you haven’t already, go and read about Roslyn saving $750 per year, just a few simple changes. 

5. What’s Next?

Book Your Rental

• Either borrow a Power-Mate from your local library, or 
• If you haven’t already, rent a Power-Mate to start taking control of your energy use. Renting is affordable, easy, and perfect for one-off or seasonal assessments. Click here to rent the Power-Mate.

Stay Informed

Check out other ecoMaster resources for energy-saving tips:

• DIY Guides: Learn how to improve your home’s efficiency.
• Expert Recommendations: Discover the best draught proofing products and practices for reducing energy bills.

Make a Difference

Every step toward better energy management helps lower your bills and reduces your environmental impact. Start small but aim big—your future self will thank you.

People Also Ask:

⇒ Where can I learn more about this from an industry expert? 

ecoMaster has been working in the energy efficiency / retrofit arena for over 20 years.  During that time we learnt an enormous amount about diagnosing issues, distinctions on various products as well as developing the best installation practices.  We have done the research, so you don’t have to. All that information has now been condensed into a series of ecoMasterClasses.  Click here to gain access.

⇒ How can I use a Power-Mate to reduce my energy bills?

A Power-Mate measures the energy consumption of individual appliances in your home. By identifying which appliances use the most energy, you can make informed decisions, such as upgrading to energy-efficient models, adjusting usage habits, or unplugging devices when not in use. This DIY tool provides clear data to help you take control of your energy costs.

⇒ What appliances should I test with a Power-Mate?

Start with high-energy devices like heaters, fridges, air conditioners, and washing machines. Then test smaller appliances, like microwaves or entertainment systems, especially for standby power consumption. Many “off” devices still draw electricity, and a Power-Mate helps you uncover these hidden energy drains.

⇒ Is it better to borrow, rent or buy a Power-Mate?

Borrowing a Power-Mate is free, but there may be quite a waiting period to get one.  The next best is renting a Power-Mate as the perfect option for a one-time home energy audit.  For what you can say, they are cheap to rent! If you plan to frequently monitor your energy use or test multiple homes (or are considering a career as an energy assessor), investing in your own Power-Mate could be more cost-effective in the long run.

What’s Next?

We hope this article has helped you learn how to use simple ways to save on your utility bill. This in turn will help you on your energy and thermal efficiency retrofit journey to make your home more comfortable all year round, and reduce your costs and carbon emissions.  

Next, explore the Draught Proofing Information Hub for more cost effective ways to save on your energy bills.

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