Top power savings tips
We share some great ways to save on your power bill
We recently an a Facebook competition asking people to tell us their top power savings tips to be in to win a $500 cash prize. We received a great response with over 400 entries and lots of useful power saving ideas.
And while many ideas seem obvious, it’s a timely reminder that when you put these habits in place, you cannot only save power, but a little extra money too.
Here is a list of the top 20 tips we’d love to share with you.
Top 20 power savings tips
- Only run your dishwasher, washing machine or dryer when you have a full load.
- Quicker showers for the kids by playing one of their favourite songs on the speaker as their timer. Helps save power and water.
- Close all your blinds or curtains at sunset before the temperature drops to retain heat.
- Air out your house daily, and if possible dry windows if there is condensation – A dry house is a lot easier to keep warm.
- Not all heaters have thermostats, so get a timer or smart plug for your heaters. A smart plug can also set heaters to switch on and off depending on the temperature of the room.
- After using the oven for dinner, open the door and leave it open for a while to let the warmth out.
- Check all your appliances – are they on standby mode (switched on at the wall)? Do they need to be on standby mode, or can they be switched off when not in use? Every little bit helps.
- Energy efficient lighting. Use LED bulbs instead of incandescent ones. LEDs use less energy and produce less heat.
- Clean your heat pump filters at least once every three months.
- If you’re cooking on the stove top, cover your pots with lids. It reduces cooking time and energy use.
- Go outside and do some exercise. You’ll soon warm up and feel great at the same time.
- Run your ceiling fan in reverse at a low speed. It will circulate warm air that rises to the ceiling and then back down into the living area.
- I switched to a new power plan that has free power from 9pm – midnight and my bills are lower compared to last winter.
- Keep the heat pump on 21 degrees and switch the fan to auto.
- Close doors to rooms you are not using.
- Wash your clothes on a cold-water cycle. Adds up to be a lot in savings, especially when you have a large family.
- Insulate your water heater with a water heater blanket.
- Plant windbreaks. Trees and shrubs can block cold winds.
- Cook with appliances such as a slow cooker, air fryer or bench-top oven instead of using your oven all the time.
- Simple DIY around the home can add up to noticeable savings in energy usage. Things like door strips, window seals, or a cheap double glazing film can help.
For more power saving tips and information, check out these useful resources:
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