The kitchen
There are plenty of ways you can reduce energy in the heart of the home without compromising on life’s simple pleasures.
Appliances
- Making a cuppa? Only fill the kettle with as much water as you’ll need.
- Opt for slow cookers, the microwave or air fryers instead of the oven or stove top. These appliances are more energy-efficient. Slow cookers use a little more energy than a traditional light bulb.
- If you do have to use the oven, use the fan-forced setting. Fan-forced ovens circulate hot air evenly, which keeps the temperature constant and cooks food quicker than conventional ovens. Switch the oven off five minutes beforehand and let the residual heat finish doing the job.
- 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.
- 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.
- Regularly check your oven door seals and replace them when they show signs of wear to avoid wasting energy.
- Avoid running the dishwasher unless it’s full. If you must run it, check whether your model offers an economy or ½ load program.
- If you’re in the market for new appliances, use the energy rating labels to compare models and lifetime running costs. The more stars the label has, the more energy efficient it is and the lower the running costs.
Fridge and freezer
- Make sure there’s plenty of room around your appliances to ensure optimal air circulation. This reduces the chances of appliances overheating. A good general rule of thumb for refrigerators is 50mm for the sides and rear of the fridge and 100mm from the top of the fridge. Though this can vary depending on the type of fridge you have. Poor air circulation can increase energy use by 15% or more.
- Position fridges and freezers out of direct sunlight and away from other sources of heat – like ovens and stoves.
- Set your fridge’s temperature between 3°C-4°C and your freezer between -15°C and -18°C.
- Fill any large gaps within your freezer with ice packs or water bottles. By filling up the space, this ensures no extra hot air can get in. But don’t overfill your fridge or freezer, as this can limit the circulation of cold air. Aim for about 20% of free space.
- Avoid placing hot food in the fridge – this makes it work harder. Let it cool slightly first.
- Got a spare fridge in the garage or shed? Running a fridge can cost anywhere from $72 to $161 per year, consider whether you need to pay double the running costs or if you could consolidate the two. If you do need the spare fridge occasionally, turn it off and only turn it back on when you need it (like over Christmas when the family are visiting).
- Check your seals regularly and replace when necessary to ensure no cool air is escaping.
- Give the coils at the back of the fridge a thorough clean at least once a year.
Laundry
Beyond using clothes racks and the sunshine to dry your washing, there are a few more energy-savvy hacks that can help reduce your energy bill.
- Wash in cold water. About 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes towards heating the water – washing in cold water is also better at preventing clothes from shrinking or fading in the wash (excluding delicates or woollens) and minimises the chance of colours bleeding.
- Avoid putting overly wet clothes in the dryer. Run an extra spin cycle first to remove excess water.
- Don’t mix light and heavy clothes together in the dryer as they take different amounts of time to dry fully.
- Perform drum cleans regularly to ensure your washing machine is working optimally.
- Be sure to clean the lint filter in your clothes dryer after every load. This also reduces the chance of a fire starting.
- A fashion and energy-efficient tip – avoid washing your jeans after each wear. Instead, if they’re not passing the sniff test, fold them up and put them in the freezer overnight instead. Not only will this save on water and energy it’s better for your jeans too!
- Consider investing in a heated drying rack for those cold rainy days instead of using the dryer.
Bathroom
Hot water accounts for around 21% of household energy usage. So, when it comes to saving energy in the bathroom, reducing your hot water usage can have a big impact.
- Keep showers between 4-5 minutes – throw on your favourite song as a timer.
- Install an energy-efficient shower head, this will reduce the amount of water you’re using and help you save on hot water too.
- Switch appliances like hairdryers, chargers and straighteners off at the wall when you’re done.
Living room
For many households this is where we spend the majority of our time. Here’s how you can be energy-savvy without giving up creature comforts.
Heating and cooling
- Instead of running the heater in winter, cosy up on the couch with a heated throw. These are cheaper to run than space heaters or split systems.
- When running your heater, be sure to set the temperature between 18°C – 20°C and close curtains and blinds when the sun goes down to trap in warmth.
- Flick ceiling fans over to ‘winter mode’ to push hot air down.
- Keep draughts at bay by using a door snake. This energy hack works in both summer (where as much as a startling 50% of the energy used to cool your home can be wasted by hot air sneaking) and in winter when draughts can steal up to 25% of your heat.
- In summer, when running your air conditioner set it to 24°C or higher and draw curtains and blinds during the day to keep heat out.
Appliances
- Position your TV away from particularly bright areas. Glare can cause the auto-brightness to increase, drawing more power.
- Do you leave the TV on for your pets? opt for a radio or Bluetooth speaker instead.
- Switch off game consoles and other appliances off at the wall when you’re not using them. Standby power can cost the average household up to $100 per year.
- Invest in smart plugs and schedule timers to switch off appliances at the wall automatically. You can also schedule them to align with SpikeHours to maximise your energy savings.
- 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). Also, remember to turn off lights when leaving a room to avoid unnecessary wastage.
Bedroom
You might spend most of your time sleeping in this room but that doesn’t mean there aren’t energy savings to be had.
- Switch appliances off at the wall once you’re finished using them.
- Use your curtains and blinds. When it’s hot during the summer, pull them shut to reap the full benefits of your AC. In winter, open them during the day and let the sunshine warm your space.
- If you have tiled or wooden floors, invest in a rug to help keep your space warm during winter.
- When there’s a cold snap opt for a set of flannelette sheets over the heater.
Study
With many of us working from home more often, small tweaks in the home office can quickly add up to savings on your bill.
- Plug your devices into an energy-saving power board.
- Set your PC to energy-saving mode to reduce the amount of power it’s drawing.
- Switch off appliances at the wall when you’re finished for the day or invest in smart plugs and set timers to do this for you.
- If you’re in the market for a new PC consider whether a laptop might suit your needs.
Check your plan and entitlements
Set a reminder 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. And while you’re doing life admin, check whether you’re eligible for any concessions or rebates.
The Australian government is also partnering with state and territory governments to provide up to $3 billion in electricity bill relief for eligible households and small businesses. Find out what this means for you and your energy bills.
