Top tips for better energy-efficiency

Becoming energy-efficient is a rewarding lifestyle choice and a good financial decision.

At Energy Pak, we’re committed to energy efficiency excellence and we’d like to help you become more energy-efficient in your home.

Unplug and save

Your DVD player, stereo and game console all use standby power, which means they consume electricity even when they’re switched off.

The average Australian household has almost 70 plug-in appliances and spends around $180 each year on standby power. As much 9% of your electricity bill could be spent on this alone.

Our top power tip: Always switch off appliances at the power point and save up to 800 kWh of electricity per year. In hard-to-reach spots, use remote-controlled power boards.

Lights off for lighter power bills

You don’t have to live in the dark to be energy-efficient with your lighting.

• Turn off any lights that aren’t in use
• Swap your 75W incandescent bulbs for 14W fluorescent globes and save up to 500 kWh of electricity per year
• Clean your lamps and shades often and use lampshades with a white liner to reflect more light
• If you’re installing downlights, consider 240V/7W compact fluorescent lights
• Light your garden paths with energy-efficient LED lighting
• Replace 12V/50W dichroic lamps with LED bulbs that provide the same level and quality of light but consume 30% less energy

Our top power tip: Replace as many lights as you can with LED lights, which are by far the most energy-efficient lighting option currently available.

LED lights at a glance:

• Reduce energy costs and CO2emissions by 90
• Don’t contain mercury or lead
• Last 50 times longer than incandescent lights
• Last 10 times longer than fluorescent lights

Great Solar light kit:

Yeti Solar makes self-contained, solar powered lights that can be installed almost anywhere.Visit http://www.yetisolar.com/

Get your power costs out of hot water

Hot, long showers are a great comfort in winter, but your hot water system has to work extra hard to heat all that water. You could be spending anywhere between 25% and 50% of your annual power costs on hot water.

• Switch to a AAA-rated shower head
• Take 4-minute showers and only occasional baths
• Turn off your hot water system if you’re going away
• Change to a gas hot water system
• Consider installing a solar hot water system

Put your energy bill through the laundry

When you think of washing machine efficiency, you think of saving water. And you should, but the energy your washing machine uses can also be a big cost factor.

• Unless you have a self-load-adjusting machine, wait until you have a full load
• Use the soak cycle to remove stubborn stains
• If you have a suds-saver feature, you can recycle rinse water
• Don’t overload your washing machine

You could also save a lot by using your clothes dryer and iron more efficiently:

• Use appropriate temperature settings on your dryer
• Clean the lint filter on your dryer after each use
• Spin-dry or ring out clothes before putting them in the dryer
• Whenever you can, dry your laundry on the line
• Iron your clothes in large batches instead of a piece at a time
• Set your iron’s temperature to the lowest suitable setting

Freeze your energy consumption

Of all your kitchen appliances, your fridge and freezer use the most energy.

• Choose the right fridge for your needs – fridges are most efficient when full
• Know exactly what you need from the fridge or freezer before you open the door
• Set your fridge thermostat between 2°C and 5°C, and freezer between -11°C and -23°C
• Check temperature by putting a thermometer in the fridge for 5-10 minutes
• If you can hear your fridge all the time, get it checked. It should only run at full speed for 30% of the day
• Place a sheet of paper between the seal and the door – if it comes out too easily, you should replace the seal
• Remove all heavy wrapping from food and place items slightly apart to promote air circulation
• If you’re going away, turn off, empty and clean your fridge, and leave the door open
• Never let frost build-up in your freezer exceed 6mm
• Defrost your chest-type freezer 1-2 times a year and upright freezer 2-3 times a year

Cook up a storm, not a high energy bill

There are small things you can do when cooking on the stove or in the oven to save big on energy consumption.

• Thaw frozen foods before cooking and save about 15 minutes of cooking time per 500 grams
• Make sure your pots and pans completely cover hot plates
• Keep the lid on pots and pans during cooking
• Place dishes in the oven so they don’t touch each other or the sides of the oven
• Every time you open the oven door, the temperature drops by 14°-20°C, so keep it closed

Wash away unnecessary power costs

Like your washing machine, your dishwasher uses energy as well as water.

• Connect your dishwasher to the cold water supply
• Don’t run your dishwasher until you have a full load

Save energy by using small/half load functions, short wash and rinse-only cycles