HOW TO SAVE ENERGY BY CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOUR

Purchasing energy efficient appliances like washing machines can certainly decrease your energy use, but did you know there are a number of behaviours you can modify to 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/Blu-ray players, game, and consoles, and other entertainment appliances at the power point to avoid using standby power
  • Only operate TV, DVD/Blu-ray players, games and consoles, and other entertainment appliances when someone is using it
  • Enable power management on all computers to allow hibernation when not in use
  • Turn off computers and peripheral devices when not in use.

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