energy saving tips
Heating Solutions that Save
Heating accounts for nearly half the energy bill for the average family home. When cold weather hits, the temptation is to
turn up all the heating at home. You can save on your heating bills with these simple measures:
- Where possible, install insulation in ceilings, under timber floors and in walls.
- If you cannot insulate your entire home at once, start with the main living area where your heating requirement is the greatest.
- Effective window coverings are essential for keeping the heat inside.
- Place weather sealing on all external doors and windows and controllable dampers to open fireplaces.
- Set your heater thermostat at the lowest possible setting and increase the temperature gradually to a comfortable
setting. The best temperature range for your thermostat is between
18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
- Only use the heater when you need it. Don't leave it running on low overnight or if you go out during the day.
- Minimise the area to be heated by closing doors or fitting drapes over open archways.
- With ducted heating systems, check with the manufacturer about how many ducts can be closed off without causing
the system to overheat and operate inefficiently.
- Consider the size of the room or area to be heated. If you only need to heat one room, it may be cheaper
to do so with a room space heater or even a portable heater.
Hot Water Savings
Hot water can account for about a quarter of your energy bills. In a typical household, hot water is second
only to heating as the hungriest user of energy. Here are some simple rules which will cut the cost of your bills without any
loss of comfort or convenience:
- Fit a low-flow showerhead or flow restrictor to your shower when using mains pressure hot water.
- Insulate hot water pipes with synthetic rubber insulation.
- Use cold water and cold water detergent when washing clothes. If you are using warm or hot water, maximise
the load. Don't set the water level to the maximum if you don't need to.
- Fix dripping hot water taps and replace any leaking plugs.
- A full bath costs more than a short shower.
Save on Power Hungry Cooking
Cooking can use considerable energy in
the home. Here are some ways you can save on your cooking bills
without compromising the quality of your meal:
- Use a microwave oven when it is practical to do so. Not only will your cooking time be reduced considerably;
you can save up to 70% on the cost of a convection oven.
- Small appliances such as electric fry pans, sandwich makers and cooktops use less energy than grillers, hot plates or ovens.
- Use steamers and pot dividers to cook all your vegetables at once rather than using several hot plates to cook them separately.
- Always use energy-efficient practices such as:
- Minimising cooking times;
- Minimising water in pots;
- Placing lids on pots;
- Simmering instead of boiling; and
- Thawing food before cooking it.
Save on Clothes Dryers
During winter months, it is not always
an option for busy families with large wash loads to dry clothes
on an outside line. So, if the free solar-drying alternative is
not available, conserve energy by following these tips when using
your dryer:
- Spin-dry your clothes on the fast spin cycle before placing them in the dryer.
- Don't overload the dryer - you are merely creating more work for the dryer over a longer drying period.
- Clean the lint filter before each load - this will shorten the drying time.
- Make sure your laundry is well ventilated. Open a window, use an exhaust fan or fit a venting kit to the
dryer to reduce humidity and drying time.
