How to save money on your electricity bill

Are you still reeling from a huge electricity bill? Here are the energy saving tips you need to reduce your next bill.

How to save in the bathroom:

Shorten your shower time
It may sound simple but it’s the small things you can do that will make the biggest difference. Cutting your shower time by three minutes can save $45 per person per year on household power bills. Make it a game with the kids to see who can lather up, wash their hair and rinse off the fastest.

Switch to solar
Did you know electric hot water systems are responsible for up to one third of your household’s power use? Making the switch to a solar, heat pump or gas hot water system could be the single most effective move you can make to save power – they cost more initially but it can pay for itself within 5-10 years depending on your household's hot water use.

Update your showerhead

If you’re using an old or standard showerhead you could be using up to 25 litres of water per minute. Switching to a water-efficient showerhead use less than seven litres per minute.

How to save in the kitchen:

Turn the fridge down
You probably wouldn’t think by reducing your fridge thermostat by 1°C could make a difference, but it can! For example, fridges need to be set at 3-4°C and freezers at -18°C to keep food fresh. Any lower and you're just paying for wasted power.

Check out these other fridge tips from Save Power:

-Keep items at least 50mm away from the coils at the back of the fridge
-Install your fridge or freezer in a cool spot out of the sun and away from the oven
-Keep door seals clean and check the door closes properly
-Don't open the door too often or leave it open long – warm air will get in
-Turn off, empty and clean or use the holiday mode if you're going away
-Defrost regularly or when ice is more than five millimeters thick
-Do not overload, leave room inside for cool air to circulate

How to save in the living room:

Switch off
Switching off appliances and electrical equipment at the power point can save you up to $150 a year. Not only do all your TVs, DVDs, VCRs, set-top boxes, games consoles, stereos and computers waste energy but microwaves can use even more power and generate more carbon pollution running the digital clock than cooking food.

Cover up
A simple way to save power in your home is to install draught seals and weather stripping around doors and windows,as draughts can increase your heating and cooling costs by up to 25 per cent by allowing cold air into your home during winter and hot air during summer.

How to save in the laundry:

Go cold over hot
You can save $35 off your annual power bill by washing with cold water instead of hot. Your clothes wash just as well in cold water and are less prone to shrinking and fading.

How to save in the garage:

Recycle your second fridge or freezer
Do you have a second (and empty) fridge sitting in the garage wasting electricity? Do yourself a favour and switch it off  – or even better recycle it!