Money tip: Be Power Smart!
With the Winter months approaching we can all expect our power bills to be higher than previous months. You can help keep those bills down by being a bit smarter and aware of how much power you are using.
1. Use timers on heaters so you don’t forget to turn them off when you don’t need them.
2. Turn your oven off a few minutes before the cooking time is up as it will stay hot enough to complete cooking for quite some time. Just make sure chicken is completely cooked before eating!
3. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before switching them on.
4. Only use as much water as you need in the kettle or when cooking.
5. Cutting showers from 15 minutes to 5 minutes each could save a family of four $900 a year!
6. Use the right size pan for your element when cooking so heat isn’t wasted.
7. Draw curtains before sundown to keep heat in. But make sure you open them on sunny days to take advantage of natural heating from the sun.
8. Switch off electronics when they are not being used and unplug chargers when devices are fully charged.
9. A microwave uses up to 70% less power than an oven so use a microwave when it’s suitable.
10. Open windows on fine days, and wipe condensation off windows in the mornings to keep the air in your house dry.
11. Seal windows and doors to reduce heat loss and drafts. Sealing compounds and weather strips are available from DIY stores and are cheap and easy to use. If you don’t have double glazing window film can help to reduce heat loss.
12. Watch out for worn seals on fridges, freezers and ovens – these lead to them using more power than they need to. Most appliance retailers can supply replacement seals.
Let us know if you have any other great power saving tips to share!