Cut down on your carbon footprint and to save the planet and save money in the process.
Electricity costs have increased significantly each year, reaching the point that it’s now the main cost of living concern for Australians. The prices are expected to drop a little in many areas of Australia during the period up to 2022/23 because of lower gas prices and lower prices for renewable energy coming into the market. But, in the end the energy bill is an enormous portion of households’ budgets. It does not help that energy provider promotions and marketing are nearly impossible to comprehend and evaluate.
The large majority Australians are enrolled with the top three that is EnergyAustralia, AGL or Origin although there are other better offers available. However, their influence is decreasing as more customers move to other retailers for better prices, which results in a push for all three major retailers to increase their offerings too.
If you haven’t made the switch to one of your energy suppliers recently, or at the very least contacted your current supplier for the best deal Try it and you could make savings of hundreds every year. If looking to find a better price is too difficult you can try an energy switch service to do it for you.
Whatever source you buy your gas or electricity from, the reduction of your household’s energy usage (along the carbon footprint) is a sound approach.
Table of Contents
1. Appliances
Turn the appliances off when not being used
Your computer, TV microwave, and some washing machines come with an “standby” mode that means they’re running on energy even when not being used. You can turn off power at the power point to decrease the energy they use (you don’t need to unplug them).
Choose appliances that have a good energy rating
The more stars you have, the greater savings, but consider the size first. It’s often more straightforward for a larger model to use less energy (and consequently include greater stars) than a smaller model. Since it’s larger in size, its energy consumption is typically more.
Choose the best washing machine
While they are more expensive to purchase, front-loaders can save cash over time and are greener as they consume less power, water , and detergent than top-loaders. Check out our reviews of washing machines for the models that are the most energy efficient.
Select a fridge that is energy-efficient.
Your refrigerator and freezer are running continuously, and the energy that it uses can quickly add up. The new refrigerators available in Australia have to meet the minimum standards for energy consumption (MEPS) which is why you should choose to buy a fridge with high ratings. (the more starsit has, the more efficient and energy-efficient it is). All refrigerators available are free of CFCs therefore don’t base your buying decision solely just on “CFC-free” labels.
2. Heating and cooling
INSTALL PEX INSULATION
Investing in PEX insulation will keep your property at a comfortable temperature both in winter and summer. This will save you the cost of your energy bill and make a profit over the course of a short amount of period of time. For more advice, go through our guide on how to keep your home cool in a natural way.
Your home should be draught-proofed
It is possible to draughtproof your home by ensuring the windows and doors are sealed. It is easy to do this by using draught excluders and window seals.
Cover your chimney by using dampers
This can help keep the heat from leaving during winter, assuming that the fireplace isn’t used and also stop the flow of hot air during warmer seasons.
Change to LED light
They’re the most energy efficient form of light bulb suitable for the majority of applications – you’ve probably have a number of LED bulbs at home, since they’ve become standard in recent times. However, if you have some old halogen downlights look into replacing them with LEDs instead. It’s possible to hire an electrician to change those drivers (transformers) in addition as LED downlights can work using an older driver, they’ll run more efficiently and last longer with an appropriate LED driver.
The downlights enter the ceiling and the insulation, which could cause heating loss (in the winter) and increase (in summer) that could cause more energy to be utilized for heating and cooling. Select fittings for downlights that have the IC or an IC F rating since these fittings can be covered by insulation. Other downlights shouldn’t be encased with insulation because the heat that is trapped can be the cause of fire.
Shut all windows that are external and doors.
This is crucial in the event that your air conditioner is on.
Blind your windows
In hot summer days, this can help block the sun’s heat and during cold winter nights, curtains or blinds can be helpful by keeping heat inside.
The air conditioner should be turned on in the morning
If you own an air conditioner you should try to only use it during extremely humid or hot days. If you are planning to have an extremely hot day you should turn the AC off early and shut down the home. This allows the air conditioner to cool the home before it becomes too hot it, which requires less energy and to keep it cool throughout the duration of the day. On the cold days of winter, you should start warming up before sunrise and do not let cool air go out. This will only work if your home is properly insulated and sealed, or else you’ll end up wasting lots of your cooling energy.
A lot of air conditioners can be controlled remotely using an app that you can download on your phone and you can turn the unit on from afar so that your home is cool when you return homeinstead of being forced to turn it off for the entire throughout the day. Apps also let you turn off the air conditioner at any time (if you’ve accidentally let it run) and even track the amount of energy it’s using. You can also utilize the timer function of the air conditioner to ensure that it turns on at the correct time.
Set your air conditioner at the maximum temperature setting where you are at a comfortable temperature (24 to 25oC are generally sufficient). Every increment of 1 degree Celsius in the thermostat setting will save around 20% of your energy use. Consider the Economy setting when it is available. It’s the same for winter heating – opt for the hottest indoor temperature and dress in the addition of a sweater instead of raising the temperature. Our guide to buying air conditioners will assist you in choosing the ideal AC for your house.
Install ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are less expensive than air conditioning, and they have less environmental impact. When winter arrives you can switch the fan to in reverse, or even winter mode, if it has one. This helps mix warm air more efficiently throughout the room.