Planning on being home more? Here’s how to save energy and reduce your power bills
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When it comes to seasons, no capital city in Australia does them quite like Canberra.
From the hot, dry days and endless blue skies of summer, and the vivid colours of fallen leaves that blanket suburbs in autumn, to the crisp, icy mornings of winter, and the beautiful regrowth of spring.
Trying to keep comfortable and stay in control of your energy costs can be a balancing act—especially now that many of us face spending the coming cooler months working at home or with the kids.
We chatted to the team at ActewAGL, the region’s leading energy provider, for tips on how to save on energy costs while potentially being home more throughout Canberra’s four seasons.
ActewAGL has been in Canberra even longer than Parliament, so they know a thing or two about managing Canberra’s seasons.
Temperature tips
Depending on the time of year, heating and cooling your home will not only keep you comfortable, it may be the only thing to guarantee you a good night’s sleep.
In the cooler months, aim to keep the temperature between 18–20°C. Every degree lower than this can add 10% to your bill. Also check the auto timers on your heater. By reducing your heating time by one hour a day, you’ll save up to 90 hours of heating costs over winter.
Once the warmer months return, aim to keep your air conditioner set to above 24°C. Every degree lower can add 10% to your electricity bill. Check out the Your power to save booklet for more tips.
Watch your water
On frosty mornings, it can be very tempting to indulge in long, piping hot showers to ward off that winter chill. To help lower costs, reduce the temperature setting of your hot water system to 60°C (instead of 70–80°C) to save up to 10% on water heating.
If you have an instantaneous system, check that your thermostat is set no higher than 50°C. You could also consider switching to a water-efficient showerhead. Another simple tip is to wash your clothes in cold water to reduce these energy costs by up to 90%.
OTHER IDEAS
Upgrade your major appliances
Older, power-hungry appliances could really be adding to your energy bill. If you have an older air conditioner, flued gas heater or hot water system, upgrading to an energy-efficient appliance can help with immediate and ongoing bill savings.
You may even be eligible for a big discount on a brand new appliance.
Ditch the second fridge—for free
Running an old second fridge can add about $200 a year to your energy bill.
With the summer party season over and the ‘beer fridge’ retired, ActewAGL will pick up your fridge or freezer, ensure it’s responsibly recycled and give you $30 credit on your electricity account.
Book in your free pick up today.
Smooth out your energy bills
To stay on top of your bills all year round, ActewAGL offers direct debit EvenPay, where the cost of your annual gas and electricity bills are split into even fortnightly or monthly payments.
You’ll pay a set, regular payment to your energy account, rather than paying a full bill each quarter. It only takes a few minutes to set up.
Be smart—get a smart meter
A smart meter enables you to view detailed information online about your daily electricity use.
This helps you to make more informed choices about when and how you use electricity, including opportunities to reduce your bill and stay in control.
Best of all? It’s free to have one installed.
Want to know more about how to use less and save more? Click here for more clever tips and tricks from ActewAGL.
Ths editorial was created in partnership with ActewAGL. For more information about sponsored partnerships, click here.
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