Become a fan of fans

Over summer, the air conditioner is probably your first choice when it’s hot outside. While it does a great job of keeping your home cool, it can be very expensive to run – so try using a fan instead. They’re good at cooling specific parts of a room and use a lot less energy. If you’re lucky enough to have ceiling fans installed, one of the best things about them is that they can cost as little as two cents an hour to run! If you’re opting for a pedestal fan, the best place to pop it is near your windows so it can push cool air through your home.

Be AC savvy

We know that the fan won’t always cut it during those long hot days and nights, and the air conditioner is sometimes a must. To make sure your air conditioner is working efficiently and not using more energy that it needs, it’s a good idea to give the filters a good clean or replace them regularly.

The temp you set your air conditioner can also make a big difference to your bill. Even on those super-hot days, it’s best to set your air conditioner to 24°C or higher – each degree under that uses 5-10% more energy. And for even bigger savings, only use your air conditioner when it gets to over 30°C outside.

Not using every room in the house? Set your air conditioner to cool different parts of the house when you need it or alternate the rooms you’re cooling – that way, you’re not wasting energy.

Make your windows work for you

During the day, when the air conditioner is pumping, it’s ideal to keep your windows closed to make sure the cool air doesn’t escape. But at night, when the temp has dropped and there may be a breeze, try opening the window to let the air flow in.  

On days where the heat is milder, try opening windows at different ends of the house to create a cross breeze. Better still if those ends aren’t in direct sunlight.

Keep the sun’s rays at bay

As nice as it is to have the sun light up your home, it also increases the temperature – and in the warmer months, this just means your air conditioner must work harder to cool the room.

A single windowpane can gain up to 10 times more heat than the same sized area of uninsulated wall. Luckily, you can reduce the temperature of your home just by using blinds, drapes or window shades to keep the sunlight out . Window coverings with white surfaces facing outdoors will reflect the sun and do an even better job at cooling your room.

Another inexpensive and easy way to keep the sun out is getting some shade cloths for your front or back yard.

Switch off before you head out

Taking a holiday can already be an expensive exercise, so why keep paying for things at home that you won’t be using? Before you leave, take a wander around your house and switch off appliances like TVs, toasters and coffee machines at the wall.

Got a second fridge? Consolidate all your perishables into your main fridge and switch the second one off at the wall too. Then kick back, relax and enjoy your holiday! You could also invest in smart plugs. They help you turn switches on and off from wherever you are with your smartphone. Just make sure you’re holidaying somewhere with reception!

Quick ways to save this summer:

1. Opt for a fan over the AC when possible.
2. Position your fan near the window to circulate cool air.
3. Keep your air conditioner to 24°C degrees or more.
4. Only use the AC in rooms that you’re using.
5. Keep your doors and windows closed during the day.
6. Open your windows at night to let the cool air inside.
7. Use blinds, drapes and curtains to keep sunlight from heating the house.
8. Use the BBQ instead of the stove or oven when you can.
9. Hang your clothes on the line to dry and avoid using the clothes dryer.
10. Having friends over in the evening? Entertain outside when it’s cooler.
11. Going away? Turn off appliances you don’t need or install smart plugs.
12. Take advantage of summer by spending your weekends at the local pool, the beach or head out for an ice-cream date.

The post 12 tips for staying cool this summer appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Be sun smart…inside

Covering up from the sun doesn’t just apply to a day at the beach. Closing the blinds on hot days can make a world of difference, lowering the temperature of your home and your energy bill. Up to 76% of sunlight that falls onto a standard double-pane window converts into heat. Explore options like regular blinds, window tinting, and window awnings — anything that blocks the light will contribute to blocking heat. Properly ventilating your home with fans, making use of breezes and creating a cool draft through your house can significantly reduce the temperature.

Take advantage of the sun

It’s not just solar panels that can harness the sun at home. A simple yet effective way to reduce energy usage is line-drying clothes. For those that don’t have access to a clothesline, there are ways to make your machine drying more energy efficient. Start with choosing the most energy efficient dryer you can. Every dryer sold in Australia will come with a 1 to 5 star energy rating — with 1 being the least efficient and 5 being the most. Ensuring that your filter is clean after every use can lower energy usage as well, as blocked filters force the dryer to work harder to dry clothes, while turning up the spin cycle can lower energy usage overall. 

Dryers are one of the thirstiest home appliances when it comes to energy usage, so removing them from daily use or improving their energy efficiency can significantly reduce your home’s energy expenditure. Unlock extra perks for your new energy-efficient appliance by exploring potential rebates in your state.

Cool smart

Your air-conditioning vs the Australian summer, the never-ending (and mostly one-sided) battle. Flicking on the air-con on the first hot day of summer can almost be a force of habit, but it also puts significant strain on the network. We know it’s nearly impossible to go without your air conditioner during those gruelling summer days. Still, using it only when necessary and setting your temperature to 24°C or above — each degree under that uses 5-10% more energy.

Get rewarded with Origin Spike

If you’re going to lower your energy usage, you can make the most of it with the added benefits of Origin Spike. Spike, our energy-saving rewards program, rewards you for lowering your usage through peak periods (Spike Hours).

Spike members that successfully reduce their energy use and meet their forecasts during SpikeHours are rewarded with Watts which can be redeemed for PayPal Cash or gift cards. 

Understand load shedding and demand

When summer hits, so do the headlines about load shedding, network outages and the potential to be without power. Load shedding is what happens when the demand exceeds the supply, and energy distributors need to make the tough call to cut off power in some areas to prevent the whole network from shutting down. While load shedding might seem like a common occurrence in the news, it’s actually a last-resort measure. Excessive power usage or damaged network equipment due to storms, bushfires and cyclones can trigger load shedding. The National Electricity Market (NEM) is gearing up for this year’s unique challenges by increasing scheduled generation and boosting wind and solar generation compared to last year. 

To stay informed about potential outages in your area, sign up for SMS alerts from your distributor or dive into our comprehensive load-shedding blog. 

Be bushfire ready

Bushfires are an annual reality for many Australians, and this year is no exception. With early warnings for the 2023/24 bushfire season already issued, it’s essential to understand the potential impact on your power supply. During bushfires, electricity and natural gas may be shut down as a safety precaution. Stay connected with your local distributor for outage updates and explore our emergency page for information on navigating natural disasters that may disrupt the power network. 

The post How to get your home summer-ready appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Written by Steve the door snake

I know what you’re probably thinking. What would a door snake know about beating the heat? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit… 

Tame air leaks

You see, what you might not realise is that those sneaky gaps in your windows and doors that let winter draughts creep in, are just as pesky in summer. In fact, as much as a startling 50% of the energy used to cool an uninsulated home can be wasted through hot air getting into a room you’re trying to keep cool through these very same gaps! 
 
These hot air leaks are such an issue that my Aunty Glenys over in sunny Sockremento swears by her easy ‘look, listen and feel’ technique to decide when a door snake might save you from wasting cool air.

She says:

1. Look for movement in the curtains.
2. Listen for rattles or whistles near doors and windows.
3. Feel for moving air, especially near doors, windows, fireplaces or floorboards.  

Any of the above are usually* caused by an air leak letting hot air in. The great news, a door snake is just one way you can get it sorted quick-smart. 
 
(*If it’s not a hot air leak, it’s probably a poltergeist, in which case us door snakes become a little bit useless and you’re on your own. Sorry).   

Once you’ve got your trusty door snake sorted, check out these other easy ways to stay cool and keep your energy costs down this summer. 

Make your windows work for you

Now you know about hot air leaks in summer, it’s probably obvious that during the day, it’s ideal to keep your windows closed to make sure the hot air doesn’t creep in – and any cool air you’ve captured from your AC doesn’t escape. But on nights, where the temp drops and there’s a breeze, try opening the windows to let the air flow in. Better still, on days when the heat isn’t sky high, try opening windows at different ends of the house to create a cross breeze. 

Become a fan of fans

While winter saw me fan-snaking over Taylor Swift, this summer I’ve become a big fan of fans. They’re more energy efficient and way cheaper to run than air conditioners (which means more money to spend on concert tix) with ceiling fans costing as little as two cents an hour to run. Pedestal fans are particularly good at cooling specific parts of your room, especially if you position them in front of an open window of an evening, when they can help to push the cool air – and delightful summer smells – through your space.

Be AC savvy

We know, sometimes fans just don’t cut the mustard against an Aussie summer. On these days, the AC is your bestie. But just because you’re using it to feel cooler than a cucumber, doesn’t mean you can’t be smart about it.  

Firstly, you’ll want to make sure those filters are nice and clean – or that you replace them regularly to make sure your air conditioner is working at its most efficient and not chewing through more energy than it needs.  

If you have a central air conditioning system, it’s a good idea to use the zone control function so you’re only cooling the rooms you’re actually in. For split systems, close off the areas of the house you’re not in to ensure you’re only cooling the rooms you need to. 
 
When selecting the temp, set it to 24°C or higher. This simple tip can make a big difference to your energy usage, with each degree under 24°C using a whopping 5-10% more energy. 

Keep the sun’s rays at bay

It’s no secret, us snakes love finding a sunny spot to curl up in. But too much of a good thing is not always great, and in the warmer months, letting the sunlight into your house means you have to work harder to keep your space cool. Which isn’t cool. 

In summer, a single windowpane can gain up to 10 times more heat than the same sized area of uninsulated wall. That’s a lot of extra heat! Luckily, you can reduce your home’s temp just by using blinds, drapes or window shades to keep the sun out. Even better, if these window coverings are white, they’ll reflect the sun and do an even better job at cooling your room. Pretty clever for a colour, huh? 

Switch off before heading out

Did dear old Mumsy always nag you to “switch that off” whenever you left a room or were finished using something? Yep. Same. Triggering as that memory may be, turns out it was for a very good reason. And it all comes down to savings. To avoid paying for what you’re not using, try switching off before you head out. Flicking the switch off at the wall on things like TVs, toasters, coffee machines and kettles can all add up to save you big bucks! In fact, standby power can cost you up to $100 per year.  

If you’re heading away on holidays and have a second fridge, don’t forget to clear out all your perishables and give it the flick, too. Better still, invest in some smart plugs. These clever gadgets mean you can turn off your appliances from wherever you are, in case you forget.  

Make a habit of checking your plan

I’m not the biggest fan of life admin I must admit, but once every few months – after I’ve put the snakelets to bed – I jump online and check my energy plan. Remembering to check your energy plan regularly can result in big savings on your energy bill. And while you’re ticking things off your to-do list, check if you’re eligible for any concessions or rebates. 

Ask for help if you need it

We’re all feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, so if there’s any way the team at Origin can help you, please reach out. There’s a range of financial support available, including tailored support via their Power On Program.

About the author

Steve is an expert draught fighter and blog writer, originally from Sock-ramento.

He has a bachelor of Gap Filling and a Masters in Busting Nasty Breezes. He began his career in a small cold, old home, effectively stopping nasty draughts for over 5 years, before being promoted to a 4-bedroom house with 3 times the draughty gaps, where he also excelled.

Steve is currently Minister for the Department of Draughts and lives in Warm-anbool with his partner and two door snakelets.

The post Steve’s summer energy saving tips appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Several interesting facts around the use of air conditioning came out of the Future Energy Report. One was that 51% of people who have rooftop solar now feel less guilty about using their air conditioning. Another is that 30% of households feel that the use of air conditioning is their most indulgent or extravagant use of electricity. Finally, and surprisingly, 16% of 18–34-year-olds run their heating or cooling when they’re not home, to keep their furry friends comfortable!

Air conditioning, in a country of extreme temperatures, is often considered essential. So how do households best balance its use with its impact on their power bills?

Most important, says Jared Mullane, Canstar Blue’s Energy Editor, is to ensure you’ve got the right one installed in the first place. All single-phase, residential air conditioners require an Energy Rating Label. The star rating as well as the average energy usage displayed on that label are helpful in working out ongoing costs.

Even more useful, is the Zoned Energy Rating Label – a relatively new requirement. Any model of air conditioner released into the market after April 1, 2020, must contain a more detailed label, indicating energy use across three climate zones, for both heating and cooling.

“The three zones are simply called Hot, Average and Cold,” Mullane says. “Brisbane and Darwin are hot. Sydney, Adelaide and Perth are average. Canberra, Hobart and Melbourne are cold. This takes into account performance in certain environments, including outside air temperature, humidity, frosting and cloud cover.”

The Zoned Energy Rating Label provides an entirely new level of detail around running costs, allowing the customer to somewhat individualise the costs for their own situation. To figure out ongoing costs, customers should first take note of what they’re charged per kilowatt hour (kWh). If the label says that in their climate zone the unit will use 1660 kWh per year for heating and 272 kWh per year for cooling, and they are charged 24c/kWh, then they know the unit will cost around $463 annually in electricity usage costs (1932 kWh x $0.24).

Remember, such detailed labels will only be shown on models introduced after April 1, 2020. “For any air conditioning unit, regardless of release date, it pays to have a discussion with an experienced installer,” Mullane says.

“Having the right capacity for heating and cooling, for your location and space, is vital,” he says. “You don’t want to be installing a large system in a small area, and vice versa. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an overpowered or underpowered system, both of which will cost you more in the long run.”

Finally, Mullane recommends, ensure your air conditioner is serviced at the correct intervals, and clean the air filters every six months. This is typically a simple DIY process that involves removing the filters, hosing them off and leaving them out to dry before replacing them. If you’re not confident doing this yourself, it should be done as part of the regular service.

The right air conditioning system for your home, and for your local weather conditions, will save you hundreds of dollars annually. It will also result in less stress on the electricity grid on hot days. Now that’s a win/win.

Looking for more ways to be more energy efficient at your place?

The post How to choose the most energy efficient air conditioner appeared first on The Origin Blog.