We rely heavily on non-renewable energy source to power our lives. In fact, 86% of Australia relies on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas to get by. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian households spent $99 per week on average on energy, of which $39 was spent within dwellings in 2012. With the population expected to rise, our dependance on fossil fuels only deepens.
By making a conscious effort to do more with less energy, people will not only benefit financially, it will also benefit the environment, saving natural resources and reducing the world’s pollution. Although it may seem like there may be a lot of effort involved in reducing energy consumption, with a few handy tips, it can be a breeze.
Here are five ways to reduce your household energy consumption:
Turn it off
Saving energy 101. If it’s on and you are leaving a room, switch it off. Wow. So intense! But no, not really… It takes only a second to flick off the switch. So there is no excuse really as on average, lighting equates to approximately 15% of household electricity budgets. Over time, this will really help to reduce your energy usage.
As incandescent lights are being phased out in Australia, there is no better time than the present to convert your light bulbs to energy efficient LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Plus utilising as much natural light as possible will also help to reduce your reliance on other forms of lighting in the daytime.
Use your appliances efficiently
With appliances being accountable for nearly 30% of a household energy bill, a great and simple way to use them efficiently is to think about how you use them and whether it is always necessary to; for instance, setting your washing machine to such a high temperature. The energy consumed by your dishwasher or washing machine is based on whether your appliance has to heat the water and therefore once your washing machine is full, consider whether the job can be completed at a lower heat and still achieve the same outcome. Plus, reducing the heat when washing your clothes can also increase the longevity of your stylish wardrobe. And – even better – once your clothes are washed, and if the weather’s good, why not go crazy and air dry them?! Madness.
Unplug appliances when you’re done
Although it can be convenient to dash out the house and press your TV on standby, your TV, computer and any other appliances on ‘stand by’ mode are still using energy, except for the difference that it is just wasted energy as you’re not there to utilise it. Just think if you took that extra second to unplug the appliances once you’ve used them you can save yourself enough additional dollars to treat yourself to a taxi now and again when you are truly late.
Buy energy efficient appliances
When you are considering new appliances, it is important to consider looking at how energy efficient they are. Heating and cooling can be an expensive luxury in any household and investing in energy efficient heaters is the perfect way to save on your household energy budget. Not only can you save money at the start when you buy competitively, but you can also experience savings in the years to come – and you won’t feel bad when you’re pumping the heat and enjoying your home to the best of its ability.
Use energy star ratings
A simple and effective way to analyze your energy usage is to consider using the energy star ratings-an initiative of the Australian and New Zealand governments– as after all they have been put there for this purpose. They have been put in place to reduce greenhouse gasses for the country and this has a direct reduction in your household energy and the cost of running of your home.
We hope you’ll put these five quick and simple tips to good use, and see the savings roll in. You will also directly contribute to the global efforts to battle climate change. Now if that’s not a great reason, I don’t know what is!
Disclosure: This post was created and sponsored by Thermofilm. Eco Warrior Princess only supports brands that are in line with our high ethical standards. To read more about this, check out our disclosure policy.
