Getting into hot water
Heating water accounts for about a third of your household's total energy use. But there are many simple things you can do to reduce this.
- Keep your hot water at 55°C at the tap and no less than 60°C at the cylinder.
- Put an insulation wrap around your hot water cylinder (and any pipes).
- Use cold water wherever possible (washing clothes, filling the jug, rinsing dishes etc).
- Have short showers instead of baths.
- Fit low-flow showerheads.
- Use washing machines and dishwashers when full (and buy water-efficient models).
- Reduce water flow from your taps.
- Fix leaks and drips.
Read more about Water heating.
Lighting and appliances chew through about 35% of a typical household's energy use.
Using energy-efficient lightbulbs is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do at home to save power and money. They use about 75% less energy than standard lightbulbs and last up to 10 times longer - so the additional cost more than pays itself back.
When it comes to buying new appliances, look for:
- ENERGY STAR marks - awarded to the most energy-efficient products
- star rating labels - the more stars, the better the efficiency.
And don't forget to turn appliances such as computers and microwaves off at the wall. Any appliance with LED lights or time displays still on will be drawing power (even if you've turned them off at the unit).
