The lights are on, but no-one’s home.
Not smart!
Now if you think saving the planet one light bulb at a time is too big a thing to even think about then consider this simple fact.
By cutting down the energy used in your home you can save yourself some serious cash!
In fact, if we were all just a little bit brighter we’d save HUGE amounts on our power bills.
Here are some mind-blowing facts I bet you didn’t know…
- A five minute shower uses the same amount of energy as running a standard television for 20 hours.
- A load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher uses 37 % less water than washing dishes by hand.
- The average Australian has 20-40 devices that are constantly sucking power, just by being plugged in- even if they aren’t turned on. This ‘stand by power’ costs Australians an extra $200 a year in electricity without any added benefit.
That’s money down the drain!
So here’s what I’m going to do every day to save big bucks on my power bill…
- Fight the light!!! *cue more ambient, cost friendly lighting* Leaving the lights on when I’m not even in the room is money down the drain. So I’ve invested in candles and compact flourescent light bulbs. Those funny looking bulbs produce the same amount of light and only use ¼ of the electricity. Plus they last for years without burning out.
- Another simple way to save energy AND water is to take shorter showers. You use less hot water – and water heaters account for nearly 1/4 of your home’s energy use. Plus, with another hot summer around the corner it’s good to remember a dip in the ocean is FREE and a great way to cool down on a hot day.
- Get a power board with a flip switch to save money on ‘standby power’. I’m off to invest in a few power boards to save on my energy sucking applicances. So whenever I can I’ll be able to switch of all my appliances-hassle free!
- Think about your curtains! It’s a strange but effective method. Keeping the curtains closed on cold, cloudy days helps block the cold outside air from getting inside. Whilst keeping the curtains closed on a very hot day keeps the hot air out!
Now you know what you can do immediately to start saving….What’s next?
Well here are some things we can all think about doing in the future to save big money on our power bills and keep that cash in our wallets…
- Take advantage of the Government Solar Power grants. You will literally save yourself thousands of dollars on electricity if you qualify for one of the Government’s renewable energy rebates, subsidies or grants like the solar hot water system.
- Participate and prepare for earth hour each year. Turning off all of your power for that one hour alone can save you some serious cash and it’s enlightening.
- If you are going to buy new appliances, choose eco-friendly ones. They tend to be more expensive, but they will save you money in the long run. When choosing a new appliance, look for the energy star, the more stars the better the saving!
- Check the fridge! If your fridge was built more than eight years ago, chances are that a substantial part of your electricity bill is being spent on its inefficiency. Changing it now, while the running cost is increasing, will be an investment worth making. In fact a 10 year old fridge is probably half as efficient as an Energy star rated fridge made today. Not just because they weren’t built to as high a standard back then, but because dust builds up on the coils and doesn’t get cleaned off, insulation in the fridge wall degrades, and it can start to leak. However, if you don’t think it’s worth replacing just yet, check the condition of the door’s seal and replace it if it is damaged.
It’s easy to take electricity for granted; after all we aren’t the ones out there sourcing it.
However we are paying for it.
Each and every bit of the energy you use on a daily basis ends up on YOUR power bill. By following a few or all of these simple tips you’ll be saving significantly on your power usage each month.
And it’s all stuff you can start doing NOW that will make the difference to your wallet.
So for now, it’s off with this computer…AT THE WALL… and off to bed for me!!!
Cheers!
Greg Ellis
P.S- For more energy saving tips and benefits check out these great sites:
http://www.savepower.nsw.gov.au/
http://www.shoparound.com.au/Energy/Help.aspx
