Purchasing solar panels and energy efficient appliances will certainly decrease your energy use, but did you know there are a number of changes you can make to your everyday living that will help save energy too?
Food Preparation
- Thaw food before cooking instead of using the microwave
- Use
minimum water and keep lids on pots
Simmer instead of boiling water - Match the pot size to the hotplate/burner size
- Turn the oven off 10 minutes before cooking is finished and use residual heat to finish cooking
- When using aluminium foil apply the dull side up
- Turn your microwave, oven and stovetop off at the power point when not in use to avoid using standby power
- Only boil as much water as needed when using the kettle.
Food Storage
- Set the refrigerator and freezer at optimum temperatures. Optimum refrigerator temperature is 3° to 5° Celsius. Optimum freezer temperature is -15° to -18° Celsius
- Minimise the number of times the refrigerator and freezer doors are opened
- Regularly clean and defrost the icebox or freezer
- Provide good ventilation to the refrigeration cabinet
- Don’t overfill the fridge.
Cleaning
- Turn off standby power to dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer
- Stop the dishwasher before the drying cycle and allow dishes to air dry
- Only run the dishwasher when it is full
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Use a clothesline for drying instead of using a clothes dryer
- If using a clothes dryer, place a drying rack in front of the dryer to avoid multiple loads
- Reduce showering time.
Lighting
- Turn off lights when the room is not in use
- Only use lights when necessary.
Climate Control
- When using heating/cooling appliances, increase the temperature in summer and reduce it in winter. Every degree will be saving you approximately 10% of your heating and cooling running costs
- Only operate heating, cooling and ventilation when required
- Use economy cycle with air conditioners if possible
- Use zoning and keep doors closed when operating heating and cooling appliances
- Regularly maintain heating and cooling appliances
- Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning where possible
- Reduce internal heat load by turning off appliances not in use.
Pool and Spa
- Reduce pump filtration run time to match seasonal requirement. E.g. summer 6-8 hours, winter 2-3 hours
- Reduce temperature for heated pools
- Use pool covers and blankets
- Regularly clean the filter and skimmer
- Investigate off-peak tariff options with your energy retailer.
Entertainment
- Turn off TV, DVD’s, gaming consoles, and other entertainment appliances at the power point to avoid using standby power
- Only operate entertainment appliances when someone is using it
- Enable power management on all computers to allow hibernation when not in use
- Turn off computers and devices when not in use.
How we can help save more on your bills?
Bara Electrical can recommend power saving appliances and are experts in electrical installation of all home appliances and lighting. We also install and maintain air-conditioning and ceiling fans that will reduce your power usage even further.
