Saving Power in your Home

Saving power and increasing energy efficiency is something most households can improve on. There are many of ways to save power in your home and this page sets out some ideas to get you started.

By knowing where your electricity is being used you will be better equipped to save power - and money - in your home.
A short list of common household appliances and approximate amounts of how much they cost to run has also been included to help you understand where your power is going.

By using the percentages from the graph - on a bill of $100 you would be spending around $40 on Hot Water, $10 on Lighting, $10 on Refrigeration, $20 on Space Heating (heating your home) and the remaining $20 on your various Appliances

A range of power saving solutions are available to help you reduce your power bill. You can choose from simple things that will cost you nothing to investing in longer-term power saving options.

Cost Free Solutions

It's possible to save power in your home without spending a single cent by:

• Turning off lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off lights if you aren't in the room Turning appliances off at the wall when not in use - standby modes still use power.
• Waiting until you have a full load before washing your laundry
• Washing laundry in cold water.
• Drying your clothes on a clothes line outside instead of using a dryer.
• Closing curtains at night to keep the warmth in during winter.
• Reducing the temperature of your hot water to 60 oC at the cylinder and 55˚C at the tap.
• If you are buying a new appliance, try to get an energy efficient model.
• Using a stuffed door snake to stop draughts.
• Opening the fridge once to get out all the food you need rather than opening and closing the fridge door repeatedly.
• Fixing any leaking taps (especially hot water taps).
• Fix any leaking hot water taps.

If you want to go a step further with your power saving, options are available to fit most budgets. The correct choice of power saving solutions will help improve your home's energy efficiency while paying for themselves over time.

Low Cost Solutions (Less than $50)

• Fitting a low flow showerhead.
• Filling gaps in your ceiling insulation.
• Insulating the first metre of hot water pipe closest to your cylinder.
• Using energy saving light bulbs in rooms you use often.
• Draught and rain proofing external doors.

Medium Cost Solutions (Pay back time 1-5 years)

• Installing a hot water cylinder wrap if your cylinder is more than 15 years old or is not an "A Grade" Cylinder.
• Insulating your ceiling.
• Insulating under wooden floors.

Higher Cost Solutions (Pay back time 3-15 years)

• Insulating walls when renovating.
• Increasing ceiling insulation.
• Changing to solar hot water heating.
• Double glazing your windows.
• Installing shades or awnings over windows that over heat your home in summer.

Customer Ideas

Below are a selection of tips from customers on saving power at home

• "Only boil the same amount of water as you are going to use for your cup of tea, this way you don't waste time boiling water you don't use"
C Te Ahuru

• "Wear bed socks to bed, keeps your feet warm with no need for electric blankets or hot water bottles."
Peter Sutcliffe

• "Boil eggs in a kettle - this method is much faster than boiling the eggs conventionally on the stove."
Alexandra Hare

• "Use your wood burner for cooking as often as possible"
Glenice McCann

• "Dairy farmers can hang washing in the chiller room at the cowshed to dry. It dries washing in a day! No need to use a drier."
Lindy Beal

• "Use sock snakes to stop drafts, they are easy to make and material can be found around the home."
Paul Mahu