Energy saving tips

Don't go too hot or cold with the temperature

Your fridge temperature should be below 5°C and your freezer should be set between -15/-18°C. Just remember, for every degree colder, you can increase your running costs by 2–4%.*

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Don't crank the air conditioner

It’s more energy efficient to heat or cool your house slowly over time, instead of turning the air conditioner up for ‘quicker’ results.

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Keep the cold in and the heat out, or vice versa

Door snakes are inexpensive and can help stop air escaping from the bottom of doors.

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Try using a pedestal or ceiling fan instead of the reverse cycle air-con

Fans are a much more energy efficient way to cool you down.

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Get your heater serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently

Even cleaning the dust and fluff from the fan can save on your electricity costs in winter.

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Pull on your pullover

Heaters are great, but see if a good old jumper can warm you up first.

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Take advantage of the sun

In winter, open your curtains in the middle of the day to let the warm sun in. In summer, use your blinds to block out the sun’s heat.

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Rug up with extra blankets

Put on some warm PJs and add a few extra blankets instead of an electric one.

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Electric blanket on, room heater off

Once you’re nice and cosy in bed, you probably don’t need to heat the whole room.

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Have a TV-free dinner

Enjoy your dinner without the TV, instead, use the time to catch up with the family.

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When the kids run off, switch off

Kids eventually lose interest in TV and computer games, when they do, don’t forget to switch things off.

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Dust off the board games

Have a good old-fashioned board game night once a month

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Switch off at the wall

It’s true, using standby uses energy. Switch off your TV, set top box and console at the wall.

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Choosing the right TV

There are many factors when deciding on an energy efficient TV, so it’s a good idea to be guided by the energy star ratings.

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When your phone or tablet has finished charging, turn off the charger

Many chargers still use electricity even when they’re not charging anything.

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Check the seals on your fridge doors

If you can slip a $5 note between the fridge and the door, you should replace your seals.

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Remove dust from the back of your fridge

Give the condenser coil a quick vacuum to remove any dust build up.

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Keep your fridge and freezer at the optimal temperature

For fridges it’s between 3 and 5°C, and freezers should be around -18°C.

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Defrost your freezer

If the ice in your freezer is thicker than 5mm, defrosting it can improve energy efficiency.

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Don't under or overfill your fridge or freezer

Find the right balance. Cooling sparse shelves is not energy efficient, but overcrowded shelves will take more energy to cool.

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Switch off the beer fridge

Having a second fridge can cost as much as $230 a year.

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Thaw frozen food in the fridge not the microwave

It might take a bit longer, but it’s more energy efficient.

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Clean your dishwasher filter regularly

Your dishwasher cleans dishes, not itself, cleaning the filter will make it run better.

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Use a cold water connection for your dishwasher

This will save on water heating costs.

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Clean all your dirty dishes at the same time

Running your dishwasher with a full load is the most energy efficient way to use it.

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Choose the right pots and pans

Use pots and pans with tight fitting lids and flat bases that cover the entire hotplate to minimise energy loss.

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Fire up the barbie once a week

Give your electric appliances a break and use your barbecue one night a week.

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If the sun's out, get your laundry out

Clothes dryers use a lot of energy, so when you can, use your clothesline.

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Clean out the lint filter of your dryer

To keep your clothes dryer running efficiently, clean the lint filter after each load.

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Wash your clothes in cold water

The cold water cycle will reduce your heating costs and your clothes will stay brighter for longer. Win win.

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Choose a washing machine with a good star rating

Front loaders are generally more energy efficient than top loaders. Make sure you check the star energy ratings before you decide.

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Wash yourself quicker

Take shorter showers is a common tip. An average a shower uses 12 litres of water every minute, so it makes sense.

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Put your pool pump on a timer

Pool pumps use a fair bit of energy, so run them on a timer to reduce energy.

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Don't light empty rooms

Your furniture is not afraid of the dark, so try and remember to turn lights off if you’re the last to leave the room.

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Use energy saving light bulbs

Incandescent bulbs are not as common anymore, but if you’ve got some, swap them for LED ones.

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Don't light the whole room

If it’s just you in the room, use a lamp instead of lighting the whole room.

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Light your path with solar

Solar lights look great and they’re easy to install.

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Use motion sensor lights outdoors

With sensor lights, you won’t have to worry about leaving outdoor lights on.

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Don't forget your shed light

Make sure you switch off your shed or garage light when you’re finished.

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When charges aren't charging, switch them off

Chargers slowly leak energy when they are left on, switch them off at the wall to save energy.

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Don't keep appliances on standby

Appliances still use energy, so switch them off at the wall.

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Lets the stars choose your new appliance

The energy star rating is an easy way to quickly see how energy efficient an appliance is.

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Consider upgrading really old appliances

Old fridges and dishwashers are not generally as energy efficient as newer models. Check energy star ratings before buying new appliances.

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Let your computer's screen saver do its job sooner

Adjust your computer’s eco-saver power settings so your screen switches off shortly after you stop using it.

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Switch printers, scanners, modems and other peripherals off at the wall when not in use

Put these devices on a separate power board so you can turn them off without affecting your computer.

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Light your workspace not the entire room

Using a lamp to light just your workspace is energy efficient and can help you concentrate.

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What to look for in a new computer

Screen size matters. The bigger the screen, the more electricity is consumed, so choose appropriately.

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Clean your dishwasher filter regularly

Your dishwasher cleans dishes, not itself, cleaning the filter will make it run better.

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Use a cold water connection for your dishwasher

This will save on water heating costs.

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Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need

The water you don’t use will just get cold and need to be heated again.

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Check the temperature of your hot water thermostat

The most efficient temperature for your hot water system is 60ºC.

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Turn your hot water off when you're on holidays

Check your manual, turning your electric hot water system off is a great way to reduce energy costs.

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Use your solar hot water system's timer and thermostat

You could reduce energy by lowering your hot water temperature at certain times of the day.

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Get your heater serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently

Even cleaning the dust and fluff from the fan can save on your electricity costs in winter.

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Consider a solar hot water system

Using the sun’s power to heat your water means you’ll use less electricity to heat water.

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Clean all your dirty dishes at the same time

Running your dishwasher with a full load is the most energy efficient way to use it.

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Clean your rangehood or exhaust fan

Removing grease from the vents will keep your rangehood running efficiently.

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Don't let heat escape through your oven seal

Check your oven seal is in good condition and replace if needed.

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Resist the urge to check on the meatloaf

Opening the oven door while cooking lowers the oven temperature and uses more energy to heat it back up.

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Where possible use the microwave

Microwaves use a lot less energy than ovens, so use it when you can.

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Switch the microwave off at the wall

When your microwave is on standby, it’s just an expensive clock. Only switch it on when you need it.

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Choose the right pots and pans

Use pots and pans with tight fitting lids and flat bases that cover the entire hotplate to minimise energy loss.

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Fire up the barbie once a week

Give your electric appliances a break and use your barbecue one night a week.

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