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Whether you’re moving because you’ve decided to rent your own place for the first time, need more room for your growing family or you’re downsizing to enjoy a lock-and-leave lifestyle, it’s worth investing some time to think about how you will be using energy in your new home and what that means for your energy bills.

Every house uses electricity in different ways, so here are some top tips to consider at your next home.

Expect the unexpected

From the number of rooms to your household appliances, many things will be different in your new home.  If this is your first time renting, you’ll be adapting to experiencing a lot of firsts from grocery shopping to managing utility bills. Or if you’re moving into a much bigger house than previous your energy usage may increase so it’s important to be prepared for a different electricity bill or your first ever electricity bill. 

It’s worth paying attention to how you use energy when you move in. You might need to change your habits or use some energy-saving hacks so your electricity bill doesn’t end up much higher than what you might have been expecting. (If you do have an unusually high bill or you’re finding it hard to pay your bill, get in touch and we can help you work out your options!)


Create your own new home hacks

You probably want to have as much money to spend on any upgrades, furniture and décor as possible when you move into your new place. You don’t want your electricity bill to be suddenly much higher – and starting fresh in your new home is a great time to adopt more energy-efficient habits. As you get more familiar with your new place, explore different ways to keep your rooms cooler or warmer, brighter or darker, depending on the season. 

Get ready for your new lifestyle

Work out what’s different in your new home – and how you can get prepared. If it’s the first time you’ve owned a pool, make sure you know how often the manufacturer recommends you need to run the filter and cleaner to get the best results without a huge spike to your bill. 

Moving into a home with ducted reverse-cycle air-conditioning? Make sure you learn how to use the timer and thermostat on your new system to use it in the most efficient way possible.


Choose energy efficient appliances

When moving into a rental property it can be tempting to buy appliances second-hand to keep those initial costs down but sometimes this can be more expensive in the long run.  If you’re considering a new washing machine, dryer, dishwasher or other major appliance when you move, it pays to do your homework before you buy.

If you choose the most energy-efficient appliances to suit your budget, it might cost you more upfront but could make a difference to your future electricity bills.

Consider solar for your new home

If your new home doesn’t yet have solar panels, or has an older system you want to upgrade, if you own your own home your move could be the perfect time to factor in a new solar system or upgrade and how you can make solar work for you.