7 energy saving tips for the cooler months

As we settle into the cooler months with shorter days, there are many things we can do around the home to keep warm and save money at the same time.

1) Change your Heater Settings

According to the Federal Government’s Your Home sustainability guide, 40% of household energy goes into heating or cooling the average Australian home. Buying the most energy-efficient heater can account for significant electricity savings, but it isn’t the only way to cut down your bills. Setting your thermostat to 20°C in winter can reduce your bills significantly, with each degree of extra heating increasing energy consumption by about 5-10%.

2) Hot Water Usage

23% of the energy used in an average Australian home is used to heat water. Switching to a hot water heat pump system will save between 74-78% less energy than used by traditional hot water systems. A heat pump works on the same principle as a refrigerator, but instead of pumping heat out of the fridge to keep it cool, they pump heat into the water. Other simple way to reduce hot water is to run your washing machine with cold water, take shorter showers and install water-efficient showerheads and taps.

3) Sealing your home from the cold

Gaps around doors and windows can let cold draughts into your home. Door seals offer an inexpensive and quick solution to seal out the cold air, keeping your home warm. Similarly, a Chimney Damper can also provide a simple, reusable seal, blocking cold air from entering the chimney and preventing warm air from leaving.

4) Putting your Ceiling Fans into Winter Mode

Many Ceiling fans have a switch above the blades, allowing you to change between summer and winter modes. This will reverse the movement of the blades that will force the warm air trapped at the top of the ceiling to fall into the room.

5) Reduce the hours of your Pool Pump

While we are spending less time outdoors, changing the settings on your pool pump can make a collective difference in your electricity bills during the cooler months. When the weather cools, running your pump between 4- 6 hours will be sufficient to filter your pool and circulate all of the chemicals during the cooler months. This will cut the pool running times to 2 hours a day compared to summer.

6) Setting Appliances to run at off-peak times

Many appliances have timers where you can set them to run at off-peak times, maximising your energy usage when it costs you less. Typically off-peaks falls into periods where most households aren’t using electricity, such as early mornings before 8am or late evening after 11 pm. Running your pool pump or doing your washing either early in the morning or late in the evening can significantly slash your bills. Note that you can only benefit from off-peak rates if you are eligible, depending on your electricity provider and the electricity meter you have.

7) Monitor your energy usage

One of the best ways to reduce your power bills in the cooler months is to track your energy usage. The emerald EMS app enables you to track your usage from your mobile with energy usage stats and weekly reports. You can also set an energy budget and receive alerts when your usage is peaking. With extra data insights, you can take control of your electricity usage, save money and keep your home comfortable in the cooler months.