NEV residents also have a key role to play both by designing energy efficient houses but also the way in which they use power sustainably.
Firstly it helps to know how and where you use your power.
Here are some simple tips to using power efficiently.
Shut doors and close curtains
Cooling the whole house can be expensive. Where possible, shut doors to areas you are not using and only cool the rooms you spend the most time in. Make sure your curtains or blinds seal your windows properly, and keep your curtains closed during the day when there is a heat-wave. Use external shading, such as external blinds or canvas awnings, to keep the sun off the windows.
Be realistic about temperature control
Before heating or cooling are you using your ceiling fans. Its amazing how much of a difference they can make. You may not need to cool or heat the house at all when the fans are on.
In summer, set your air conditioning thermostat to 26 degrees or above. In winter, heating can account for over 30% of your bill. Set your thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees. Every degree above 20 can add 10% to your heating bill.
Wash clothes in cold water
You can save around $115 per year by washing clothes in cold water. You can also save by making sure you select the shortest appropriate washing cycle and waiting until you have a full load.
Run your fridge efficiently
Your fridge is always on, making it one of your most expensive appliances. Make sure the door seal is tight and free from gaps so cold air can’t escape. An ideal fridge temperature is 4 or 5 degrees and an ideal freezer temperature is minus 15 to minus 18 degrees Celsius.
Save energy in the kitchen
Thaw frozen food in your fridge to reduce cooking time. When you are cooking, use the microwave when you can – it uses much less energy than an electric oven. If you use the stove, keep lids on your pots to reduce cooking time. Use the economy cycle on your dishwasher and only run it when it’s full. Let the dishes dry in the air rather than getting the dishwasher to dry them. Making toast -use a toaster rather than the grill.
Take appliances off standby
Switch things off at the wall, instead of leaving them on stand-by, and you could save around:
- $54 a year from your TV, set-top box and game console.
- $36 a year from your desktop computer, modem and printer.