As the weather heats up, most households do whatever they can to keep cool. But unfortunately, this cooling action can cause electricity bills to increase dramatically, leading to “bill shock” at the end of the season. At LPE, we’re here to help, so here are seven tips to help you save money on your electricity this summer.
1. Open windows for airflow
While it’s almost a crime to open a window during a hot day in Australia, at certain times, it can be a better option than turning on the aircon. We recommend opening up your windows at night and then closing windows and blinds first thing in the morning to help trap the cool air inside. A great rule of thumb is to keep the air out when the temperature outside is hotter than inside, and open up the windows when the temperature is the same, or lower.
2. Cut down on hot water
In some households, hot water is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to high electricity charges. So why not use the warmer weather as an opportunity to switch to cold water? A few areas you can make the switch include rinsing the dishes in cold water and running the washing machine on a cold water cycle. Another great way to stay cool and cut down on hot water is to take cold showers. If a cold shower sounds worse than a high electricity bill, try making your hot showers shorter.
3. Turn up the AC
If there’s one thing every Queenslander can rely on to keep them cool, it’s their air-conditioner. However, each time you lower the temperature by a degree, you can add nearly 10%*1 to its running costs. So we suggest keeping your aircon’s temperature between 24-25C. Then, make sure to use it only for cooling the rooms people are using and close the doors, windows, curtains and blinds in the rooms when it’s on.
4. Upgrade your insulation
Did you know that by allowing direct sunlight to shine into your home, you can waste up to 40% of the energy it takes to cool your home? Fortunately, for many Aussies, this loss can be reduced by double glazing and tinting your windows, installing thick close-fitting drapes, adding outdoor blinds, and using heat-reflective or light-coloured backing on curtains. With the right insulation you can keep your house cooler for longer. Another great option is to make the switch to solar, like LPE’s home solar or shared solar for apartments and townhouses. Using electricity generated by the sun has the potential to lower your electricity bill, especially in the summer months when the days are longer, and there’s more sunlight.
5. Turn off the lights
Another common way to run up your electricity bill is leaving the lights on. Lights not only heat your home, causing you to spend more money on cooling, but when used inefficiently, they can be really expensive too. To cut costs, turn off lights when you leave the room and use lamps whenever you don’t need an overhead light. For outside, consider getting solar lights, which don’t require electricity to run.
6. Add fans
Nothing says Australian summer quite like a fan running to keep you cool after a long day at the beach. They are by far one of the most cost-effective methods, costing almost a fraction of what it takes to run the air conditioner. While it may feel like your air conditioner does a better job, fans are great for cooling people (rather than entire rooms). Just make sure to turn them off when you leave the room.
7. Turn appliances off at the wall
It’s easy to forget about standby power, which actually accounts for more than 10%*2 of your household electricity use. Standby power is the energy drawn from an appliance when it’s turned off. Household appliances that use the most standby power include the clothes dryer, air-con, microwave, smart speakers and more! So to help you cut the cost of your electricity bill, we suggest turning these items off at the wall when not in use. While you might not think it, it is possible to cut the cost of your electricity bill while still keeping cool. We’re Queenslanders too, so we know! This summer, we challenge you to give these seven tips a try. Then, let us know how they impact your electricity bill in the new year!
