What you’ll need

For the cake

• 2 apples
• 2 eggs
• 80g plain flour
• 80g brown sugar
• 50g white sugar
• 50g butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the caramel sauce

• 80g white sugar
• 40g butter
• 150g heavy cream
• Pinch of salt

To serve

• Vanilla ice-cream

Method

1. Start by chopping the apples into small cubes, add them to a bowl and sprinkle cinnamon on top.
2. In a clean bowl mix together the sugars, butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix well then add in the flour and baking powder.
3. Pour it into a lined slow cooker and turn it on high for 2 hours.
4. Make the salted caramel by melting butter and brown sugar together in a pot. Mix in the heavy cream slowly and the salt. Set side.
4. Once the cake is done poke a few holes and pour half the salted caramel sauce on-top and allow it to seep in for an hour. Serve with a scoop of ice cream and top with extra sauce.

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are the perfect life hack during winter. They’re beginner chef friendly, you can cook both mains and desserts in them, and they’re energy efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – saving your energy and energy at home.

Follow Hoda for more recipe inspiration on Instagram

The post Winter Warmers: Apple pie cake recipe appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Makes 4 serves

What you’ll need

• 300g pumpkin
• 190g orzo/risoni pasta
• 300g water
• 300ml stock of your choice
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 onion
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the oil

• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 lemon peels
• Garlic
• Thyme

To serve

• Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Finely dice the pumpkin, onion, garlic and put them into a slow cooker along with the thyme, lemon juice and stock. Cook on high for 2 hours.
2. Add the orzo and remaining stock to the slow cooker and cook for a further 40 minutes.
3. Make the thyme oil by placing all of the oil ingredients into a saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes. Allow to cool whilst orzo is cooking.
4. Serve with parmesan cheese and thyme oil to taste.

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are the perfect life hack during winter. They’re beginner chef friendly, you can cook both mains and desserts in them, and they’re energy efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – saving your energy and energy at home.

Follow Hoda for more recipe inspiration on Instagram

The post Winter Warmers: Pumpkin orzo recipe appeared first on The Origin Blog.

written by Steve the door snake

So, let’s start down there, where draughts lurk, and kick them where it hurts — right in the gap. Those gaps beneath your external and internal doors are where draughts are lolling about and coaxing your warmth out.

But a few slick thinking snakes like me slung across the gaps, will beat those draughts at their own nicking game.

We’re cheap as to buy, or make, if you feel like a crafter-noon. Seriously, my friend Stanley was on special for $1.99 at the local hardware — not that he likes to admit it.

But that’s all it can cost to kick draughts from under your doors for good.

Plus, there are a few other wiley ways to beat draughts…

Windows can pinch your warmth

Pesky draughts get in those gaps too and steal your warmth. So make sure your curtains or blinds are pulled all the way down. They can also get in through skirting boards, which are easily fixed with one swift fire of your sealant gun. Bang!

Outside of door-snake style savings, there are heaps of other ways you can keep your inside warm and reduce your energy costs just by using your smarts.

Take that spare doona you hide away for when your in-laws come to visit. That’s an extra layer on your bed instead of leaving the heat on overnight.

Or, if you need a heater on, try only heating the rooms you’re actually in. Your imaginary friends or ghosts floating about the house don’t need to stay warm. They’re all good as is. Close the door to the room you’re in, and trap the heat in. That’s creative and economical. Two things ghosts aren’t.

Let’s cut to daytime.

Even then you can be getting your house warm for the night — naturally. By opening your curtains during the day to let the sun’s rays in, you’re heating the place with toasty, and free, sunshine. Then, simply close the curtains before it gets dark, and you trap that warmth in.

Now that we’ve nixed draughts, here are some of my favourite tips for saving energy this winter.

Make your showers sing

Take energy bills on by timing how many minutes your showers take. You could count yourself, but like me, you might run out of fingers. So, try a shower karaoke session instead. Pick a song that lasts about 4 minutes. The perfect shower length. A few verses and choruses later, you’ll have used less energy and smell delicious.

After your shower, why not wander about in your robe and pretend you’re the power point police and make a point of checking all your plugged-in appliances. If they’re not needed, flick them off.  Standby power can cost you up to $100 on your energy bills each year.

Layer up

Speaking as a snake made from an actual sock, I know a thing or two about dressing for the cold.

Dressing warmly in comfortable layers, like woollen jumpers, fleece track pants, thick fluffy socks, Ugg boots or Oodies definitely won’t win you a fashion award, but they might win you some big savings on your energy bill.

When it’s bed-time, as you know, I like to lay down in a door gap and keep you cosy. But you can save again here by laying down on some good ol’ flannelette sheets. They’re warm and very affordable compared to those sheets the Egyptians say we should we buy. On top of them you just layer yourself, then a waffle blanket, which are cheap and riddled with tiny spaces to create warm air pockets. Throw a woollen blanket on top of that, and then a doona, and it’s like you’re in Ibiza. Just in jammies, without the dance music or a drink with a tiny umbrella.

Snuggle up with a hot dog

Let’s talk about the best and cheapest form of getting warm. Snuggling. Lions do it. Bears do it. Cats. Dogs. Socks in drawers. Grab your cat, dog or even guinea pig, get cosy on the couch and pop on your favourite TV series. Not only will they keep you toasty, you’ll also be spending quality time together and get an added boost of serotonin too.  If you need an added layer of cosy, try a heated throw instead of cranking the heater.

Wheat bags to stay toasty

Wheat bags are tiny bursts of warm if you need a cost-effective way to zap the cold from your hands or feet. 90 seconds in the microwave and wherever you put it is toasty for a good while. Make sure you don’t overheat the bag in the microwave and always follow the directions carefully. Hot water bottles will also do the trick if you don’t have a wheat bag handy.

Make your appliances work for you

You can also make your ‘hot things’ work harder for you.  Appliances like your oven, dishwasher and dryer heat up to get their business done, but once they’re done, open their doors and let all that glorious, stored heat out into the room. This hack even doubles as a room diffuser — especially if you love the smell of fresh sheets or roast chicken.

Got a ceiling fan? Did you know they have a winter switch? Flicking this switch puts your fan in reverse, pushing warm air back down into your room. Genius. Just remember to switch it back come summer.

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 How to beat winter draughts appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Before we jump into the tips, understanding your home’s energy usage can be a helpful place to start. For instance, did you know that the average Aussie home uses 40% of their energy on heating and cooling?

If you want to get a better understanding about your usage habits, check out the Origin app. You can track your usage* over time, which allows you to easily see how the seasons affect the way you use your energy. If you have a smart meter, you can even see daily breakdowns of your usage and the weather forecast on those days (available via My Account).

Smart ways to heat your home

Heat the hub

This one might seem obvious, but only heating the rooms you’re using can have a big impact. If the family, or your housemates, are spending majority of the day in the living room make sure the heating is off in the other rooms and ensure the doors are shut – this will trap in the heat. When using the heater, the most energy-efficient temperature to set it to is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Each degree above that uses roughly 15% more energy.

Consider whether you need to turn the heater on and off

When heating your home it may also be beneficial to keep your heating on all day. That’s right, if you have reverse cycle air-conditioning it’s efficiency will vary throughout the day.

Reverse cycle air-conditioners work by sucking heat from the air outside. So, theoretically if you set the temperature to 24 degrees when it’s 24 degrees outside, it would cost very little. As the majority of air conditioners have a sensor within them that regulates the temperature, it will work to heat your home to whichever temperature you set.

With this in mind, it’s best not to turn reverse cycle air-conditioning on and off. If you heat your home for a while, only to switch the heating back on when it gets cold again, your aircon is going to have to work hard to get back to that desired temperature.

Whereas if it’s on the same low temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius – hopefully not too different from the outside temperature – it’s going to run much more efficiently.

If you’re relying on portable electric heaters or gas systems, flicking them on and off isn’t going to make much of a difference as these appliances don’t have the sensor functionality like reverse cycle air-conditioners do.

Savour the sunshine

On sunny days, take advantage of the winter rays by opening your curtains and letting the sunshine warm your spaces. As the sun dips in the afternoon, keep the cool at bay by shutting your curtains and use draught stoppers to keep cool air from creeping in. Door seals, draught-proofing strips and door snakes can reduce your heating costs by up to 25%.

Cosy up with a heated throw

Keep extra cosy this winter by investing in a heated throw. Electric throws are cheaper to run than heaters and can save you around $150 compared to other types of heating. They’re also the perfect addition to a weekend of movie watching on the couch. You can calculate the running cost of small appliances with this handy calculator.

Take advantage of residual heat

If you’re cooking up a hearty winter feast, why let that residual oven heat go to waste? After you’ve finished, simply leave the oven door ajar (make sure no little hands can touch any hot surfaces). Any extra heat that’s escaping will help warm your kitchen and living space.

Pull out the slow cooker

With of many of us heading back into the office, worrying about what to have for dinner is the last thing you want to do after a long day. Slow cookers are a win-win, and they’re beginner chef friendly. Just whack a bunch of delicious things into a pot and voila! Six hours later it’s beef bourguignon. The other amazing thing about slow cookers is they use less energy than standard ovens. In fact, they use just a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – with minimal strain on your energy bill.

Whatever the season, the best way to save on your energy bills is to create good energy habits and to make sure you’re on the right energy plan for your household’s needs.

Want to find out how you can be rewarded for saving energy? Join our energy-saving rewards program, Spike, today!

*We understand this feature isn’t currently working for all users and our team are working hard to fix it.

The post 5 winter energy saving tips appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Makes 6 serves

What you’ll need

• 5-7 pieces of lamb neck (or any other cut of meat you like)
• 10 spring onions
• 1 cup red kidney beans
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 cups of water
• 2 bunches of parsley
• 2 bunches of fresh spinach (or 450g of frozen spinach)
• 3 dried limes (or the peel of 2 limes)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons salt

To serve

• Jasmine rice

Method

1. Wash and roughly chop the parsley, spinach, spring onion roughly. Place in a slow cooker.
2. Add the lamb neck, or any other cut of meat you like, and season with salt, pepper, turmeric and cumin.
3. Add kidney beans, olive oil and water before topping with dried limes* or the peels of 2 limes.
4. Turn the slow cooker on low for 5 hours.
5. Once cooked served with the jasmine rice and enjoy.

*The preserved limes release a unique bitter/sour flavour so the peel of fresh limes would work well as an alternative

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are the perfect life hack during winter. They’re beginner chef friendly, you can cook both mains and desserts in them, and they’re energy efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – saving your energy and energy at home.

Follow Hoda for more recipe inspiration on Instagram and TikTok.

The post Winter Warmers: Persian spinach stew recipe appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Makes 6 serves

What you’ll need

• 500 grams ground beef*
• 5 large onions
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 bunch parsley
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon sea salt or 1/2 tablespoon table salt
• 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon cumin
• Pepper to taste

*For a vegetarian option, you can opt for plant based meat or lentils instead of the beef.

For the sauce

• 2 cups onion water (reserved form boiling)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

To serve

• Greek yogurt
• Extra chopped parsley

Method

1. Boil the peeled onions in a pot of water. Make sure to cover them with water for 20 minutes (or until soft).
2. Reserve 2 cups of onion water for the sauce and set onions aside to cool.
3. Remove roughly half of the onions core and chop finely. Add to a large bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients until well combined.
4. Remove 1 peel from each boiled onion and place 2-3 tablespoons of the filling into the onion and wrap firmly. Arrange each one in the bottom of the slow cooker.
5. For the sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and pour on top of the onions. Cover the onions with parchment paper. This allows them to stay extra juicy.
6. Cover the onions with a sheet of baking paper and cook on high in the slow cooker for 5 hours.
7. Once cooled, top with chopped parsley and serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are the perfect life hack during winter. They’re beginner chef friendly, you can cook both mains and desserts in them, and they’re energy efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – saving your energy and energy at home.

Follow Hoda for more recipe inspiration on Instagram and TikTok.

The post Winter Warmers: Onion dolmas recipe appeared first on The Origin Blog.

But don’t worry, there are some simple and effective ways to save energy and money this winter, without compromising on comfort or convenience. Here are 10 easy energy-saving tips you can try today. 

Kick draughts where it hurts

Draughts can steal up to 25% of your heat in winter. Check your skirting boards and around your windows for any gaps and use weather strips or caulking to seal them up. And for the more obvious ones, those that come in beneath external and internal doors, invest in a few door snakes from your local hardware store and sling them along the bottom of the door. You can also use curtains, blinds, or shutters to add an extra layer of insulation to your windows. 

Rug up

Instead of cranking up the heater, opt for an Oodie or a fluffy heated throw blanket to keep yourself cosy. Electric blankets and throws are great options during winter as they’re cheaper to run than heaters. They can save you around $150 compared to other types of heating. 

If you’ve got hardwood floors, concrete or tiles, roll out the rugs. Not only is it jarring to wake up and pop your feet on the freezing cold floor, it’s not particularly energy-friendly – as these types of flooring don’t retain the heat (unless you’re lucky enough to have underfloor heating). By adding some rugs to your space, you’ll be adding an extra layer of insulation, meaning your heater won’t need to work as hard to warm up your space.

If you’re in the market to purchase a new rug, here are a few things to look for:

• Material: If you’re looking purely for warmth, a thick wool rug is definitely the way to go. If you’re looking for something warm, but also easy to maintain and clean, try looking into good-quality cotton. 
• Thickness: As with any insulation, the thicker the better. The thicker the rug, the further the distance between your feet and the cold floor. 
• Size – Obviously the larger the surface area, the better it will insulate. But if the rug you love doesn’t come in a bigger size, you can also arrange a collection of smaller rugs to your liking. 

Soak up the sun

Take advantage of the winter sunshine and let it heat up your home. During the day, open your curtains and blinds to let the sunlight in. At night, when the sun begins to dip, close them to trap the heat inside. You can even use reflective surfaces like mirrors to bounce the sunlight around various pockets of your home and increase warmth. 

Level up your lighting

Winter days are shorter and darker, which means you’ll probably be using more artificial lighting. Switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs is an easy way to help reduce your energy usage. This simple swap could save you up to 75% on your lighting costs (that’s up to $16 per globe per year). You can also use dimmers, sensors or smart plugs to control your lighting and avoid wasting energy. 

Flick the switch on your fans

Ceiling fans can help you save energy in winter by circulating the warm air that rises to the roof. Many fans have a summer and winter switch, for winter you’ll want your fan to spin clockwise and at a low speed, so that it pushes the warm air down without creating a draught. 

Invest in the right heater

For the days you do need to flick on the heater, it’s important to ensure you choose the most efficient and appropriate one for your space and needs. For example, a reverse-cycle air conditioner can be more energy-efficient than an electric heater, as it can both heat and cool your home – an added perk in tropical or warmer climates.  
 
If you prefer a gas heater for your space, our handy guide can help you find the right one for your home and needs. 

Service your heating appliances

If you already have a reverse-cycle air conditioner, make time to have it serviced before winter kicks in and give your filters a good clean. Not only will this ensure dust and particles aren’t being recycled within your house, but it also means your air conditioner (heater) will work more efficiently. And, if there are any issues with your system, it gives you plenty of time to arrange repairs.  

If you have a gas heater, make sure you’ve had it serviced within the last two years by a qualified gasfitter. Any gas heater can spill carbon monoxide (CO) — including old and new heaters, central heating units, space heaters, wall furnaces and even decorative log fires. Carbon monoxide can make you and your family sick, and it can be fatal. To avoid the risk of CO poisoning, it’s important to have your gas heaters serviced at least every two years by a qualified gasfitter, who will inspect your heater, ensure it’s running properly and test for any CO leaks.  

Cook clever

Cooking can be a great way to warm up your home and your belly in winter, but it can also use a lot of energy. By using your oven and stove strategically, you can easily save energy. For example, if you’re cooking up a hearty winter feast, why let that residual oven heat go to waste? After you’ve finished, simply leave the oven door slightly ajar (make sure no little hands can touch any hot surfaces). Any extra heat that’s escaping will help warm your kitchen and living space. 

If you want to save time, and energy, pull out the slow cooker. Not only are they beginner chef friendly, they’re energy-efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. And there are loads of hearty delicious recipes online to inspire this week’s dinners.   

Slay energy vampires

Vampire power AKA standby power, is caused by appliances that aren’t being used still drawing power –  and it can cost the average Aussie household between $104.07 and $176.99 per year! Slaying vampire power is as easy as switching off unused appliances at the wall, or investing in some smart plugs that can do this for you (you can even set timers for them). 

Check your energy plan

One of the best ways to save energy, and money, this winter is to make sure you’re on the best energy plan for your household. You can compare our energy plans in just a few minutes online. It’s also worth checking whether you’re entitled to any concession rebates on your bill and ensure that your concession details are listed on your account. 

The post Winter energy saving tips for warm-weather Aussies appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Makes 8 serves

What you’ll need

• 400g dates
• 160g plain flour
• 150g brown sugar
• 30g white sugar
• 60g butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 eggs

For the caramel sauce

• 360g heavy cream
• 150g brown sugar
• 84g butter, cold cut into cubes

To serve

• Vanilla ice-cream

Method

1. Pit the dates and cut into small pieces. Place them in a bowl and add the baking soda and boiling hot water. Mix well and set side aside to soften.
2. Place the room temperature butter and the brown and white sugar in a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
3. Add the eggs and whisk again until doubled in size. Fold in the softened date mixture and the flour and baking powder. Be careful not to over mix.
4. Butter the slow cooker generously and fill it with the pudding mixture.
5. Cook on low for 4 hours.
6. To make the caramel, add the brown sugar and cubed butter to a saucepan over medium heat and continue to stir until melted.
7. Add the cream and continue to cook for 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
8. Once the pudding is cooked, and still warm, prick holes in the pudding and pour half the caramel mixture on top. Allow to cool slightly before serving with extra sauce on the side and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Why use a slow cooker?

Slow cookers are the perfect life hack during winter. They’re beginner chef friendly, you can cook both mains and desserts in them, and they’re energy efficient. In fact, they use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – saving your energy and energy at home.

Follow Hoda for more recipe inspiration on Instagram and TikTok.

The post Winter Warmers: Sticky date pudding recipe appeared first on The Origin Blog.

When it comes to gas usage in the home, there are usually a few main appliances that are plumbed into your gas line. These can include heaters, ovens and stoves – but perhaps the most common is hot water systems. If your home is connected to natural gas, these tips could help you reduce your energy bill. 

Heat the hub

If you have gas heating in your home, one of the best ways to reduce your gas usage during the cooler months is to heat your main living spaces – rather than individual rooms. When running your heater, be sure to set the thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Each degree over that uses about 15% more energy. 
 
To get the most out of your heater, be sure to trap the warm air. Close doors to unused rooms and draw your curtains to block radiant heat loss. When it comes to those sneaky winter draughts, draught snakes are a great low-cost investment – they do a brilliant job at stopping the heat from seeping out beneath front and back doors.

Reduce your hot water usage

Insulate your water pipes

Even though hot water tanks are insulated, heat loss can occur from the system through the pipes – particularly as water is moving from the tank to your taps. Insulating the water pipes attached to your system can reduce heat loss and raise water temperature – meaning your system doesn’t need to work as hard in cold weather to heat your water.

Purchase a low flow shower head

A simple adjustment to your shower set-up could lead to significant savings on your water and gas bill. By switching a conventional showerhead to a 5-star low-flow option, a family of four could save up to $315 a year* on their water bill. There’s also no need to sacrifice the quality of your showers either, all 4 and 5-star showerheads now need to pass tests for spray force and coverage.  

Some state and local governments may even provide rebates and financial assistance if you want to make water-efficient upgrades to your home.  

Take shorter showers

Taking shorter showers is simple way to reduce your energy usage. A 2022 survey commissioned by Melbourne Water Corporations found that showers made up an average of 31% of a typical household’s water use. Additionally, by taking a four minute shower, the average household can save 24 litres of water per shower and up to $200 a year on water and energy bills. So, pop on your favourite song and challenge yourself to take a shorter shower.

Wash in cold water

Washing in cold water is a simple way reduce your gas usage – all in one spin cycle. Not only can cold water washing help reduce your energy bill – about 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes towards heating the water – it’s also better at preventing clothes from shrinking or fading in the wash (excluding delicates or woollens) and minimises the chance of colours bleeding.  

Use the ‘economy’ setting on your dishwasher

Did you know most dishwashers have an economy mode that washes your dishes at a lower temperature? The next time you’re on dish duty, check to see if your model has this setting. Regardless of the type of dishwasher you have, try to hold off until you have a full load – and if that’s not possible, check to see if you have a ‘rapid wash’ or a ‘half-wash’ mode to be as energy-savvy as possible. 

Cook smart

Many households have gas stoves and ovens. So, if you can avoid using the oven or stove even a few nights a week, you’ll be helping reduce your gas usage over the month. An energy-efficient alternative is a good old slow cooker. Slow cookers are great for multitasking – whipping up delicious stews and comforting meals while you’re in the office, or juggling parenthood. They’re also incredibly versatile and use less energy than standard ovens.   

If you don’t have access to a slow cooker, no sweat, there are a few simple tweaks you can make to how you use your stove and oven that can add up over time.  

• Skip preheating your oven. This step is usually only necessary if the dish requires rising or leavening – like cakes, crusts and bread. For other dishes like casseroles, roasts or potato bakes you can get away with tacking the extra 20 minutes onto the recommended cook time. 
• Check your oven door seals. This one probably isn’t a regular on your life admin list, but it should be. Make sure there isn’t any heat escaping through damaged or worn seals as this means more heat’s needed – longer cook times – to cook your food.  
• Similarly, make sure you keep the door closed while cooking. Your food will take longer to cook and you’ll be wasting heat.  

• If you’re cooking on the stove top, make sure you have good quality cookware. If you haven’t replaced your pots and pans in a while, it could be time to consider it. Pans with warped bottoms take longer to heat up evenly than flat-bottomed pans will.  
• Match the pan size to the burner size. A small pan on a large burner will use unnecessary energy. 
•  Turn off the burner just before your food is cooked – the residual heat will finish cooking it. 
• If you’re cooking with your oven in winter, leave the door slightly ajar (ensuring no little hands can touch any hot surfaces) and let the residual heat warm up your space.

Make energy-efficient purchases

If you’re in the market for new appliances, it’s important to make sure a ‘good deal’ doesn’t end up costing you more in the long run. If you’re in the market for a new washing machine or dishwasher, you’ll also want to pay attention to the Water Rating Label. Like the Energy Rating Label, it allows you to quickly compare the water efficiency by showing the rate of water consumption – such as flow rate, litres per flush or litres per wash – easily helping you decide which appliance will best suit your budget and give you the best water and energy savings. 

If there’s an electrical option for the appliance you’re in the market for, it’s worth considering the switch. Electrical appliances could cost you less, providing you take into account the Energy Rating, and they allow you to take full advantage of solar if you have a solar system.

Upgrading your hot water system?

If your hot water system is in need of an upgrade, it’s worth considering the switch to an instantaneous system (AKA continuous flow). There are two main type of hot water systems, instantaneous and storage systems. Storage systems keep water heated in an insulated storage tank, whilst – as the name suggests – instantaneous systems heat the water only as it’s needed.  In colder climates especially, storage systems are particularly inefficient as it’s not possible to insulate the water where the gas flame heats the tank.  
 
If you currently have a gas system, it’s worth considering the switch to an electric instantaneous hot water system when it’s time to upgrade. Electric hot water systems can take advantage of solar, if you have a solar setup, and should you end up with a storage hot water system over an instantaneous there are options such as off-peak and controlled load tariffs that may suit your needs and reduce your cost to run.  
 
If you’re in particularly sunny part of the country, it might even be worth considering the switch to a solar hot water system – this will reduce your reliance on gas, or the energy grid, even further.  

Understand your gas rates

Natural gas plans generally have single-rate tariffs that set out charges in ‘blocks’ of usage. You’ll usually pay more for the first ‘block’ (e.g. the first 100 megajoules) of natural gas you use, a lower charge for the next block, and a lower charge again for the remaining block. For this reason, it’s important when comparing plans and rates to take into consideration the bigger picture – not just the charge for the first block.

Check your energy plan

Speaking of rates, make it a habit to check your energy bill every six months or so to ensure you’re on the best energy plan for your household. Taking the time to check your plan could result in significant savings on your gas bill.  

The post How to reduce your gas usage at home appeared first on The Origin Blog.