Energy Saving Tips

Where possible zone your home by closing doors and windows to the areas being heated, and close curtains at night to help keep the heat inside.

Set any thermostat temperature as low as possible. You should still feel warm enough at around 18°C. Each 1°C decrease of the thermostat setting will save around 10% of heating energy needed.

The use of a fan on a heater results in better heat distribution. Therefore using a fan on your heater will allow you to set a lower heat setting, whilst maintaining comfort levels and using less energy.

Use a correctly sized heater. Don't expect a small heater to heat a large area. It is unlikely to reach a comfortable temperature, making running costs unnecessarily high without providing adequate heat. Similarly, try not to use a large heater when only a small area needs heating.

Maintain your heater. Keep reflectors shiny and dust free, and clean air filters regularly. Service all heaters according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The use of a fan on a heater results in better heat distribution. Therefore using a fan on your heater will allow you to set a lower heat setting, whilst maintaining comfort levels and using less energy.

Maintain your heater. Keep reflectors shiny and dust free, and clean air filters regularly. Service all heaters according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Where possible zone your home by closing doors and windows to the areas being heated, and close curtains at night to help keep the heat inside.

Use a correctly sized heater. Don't expect a small heater to heat a large area. It is unlikely to reach a comfortable temperature, making running costs unnecessarily high without providing adequate heat. Similarly, try not to use a large heater when only a small area needs heating.

Set any thermostat temperature as low as possible. You should still feel warm enough at around 18°C. Each 1°C decrease of the thermostat setting will save around 10% of heating energy needed.

Around one third of home energy use is associated with heating water.

If building a new house, plan so that bathrooms, the laundry and in particular the kitchen are as close as possible to the hot water cylinder.

Consider installing a solar hot water system - this will significantly reduce the need to heat water using electricity or gas.

Use Energy Ratings to select energy efficient hot water services, clothes washers & dishwashers, the more stars the more energy efficient the appliance.

Fix dripping taps as soon as possible.

Use at least 10mm insulation around external hot water pipes to reduce heat losses, especially the first few metres from the cylinder.

Installing a AAA rated water efficient shower rose can save up to two thirds of hot water needed.

Take shorter showers, and to regulate shower temperature turn hot down rather than add cold.

If you are going away for an extended period consider turning off your hot water system.

Fridges and freezers generally operate 24 hours a day all year long and can therefore account for a surprisingly large amount of energy use.

Before buying, decide on the size (volume), type of refrigerator, and features you want. Don't buy a refrigerator that's too big for your needs, it will generally use more energy.

Use appliance Energy Ratings to select an energy efficient refrigerator and/or freezer, the more stars the more energy efficient.

Place the refrigerator and freezer in a cool location away from ovens, stoves and direct sunlight.

Ensure that there is good air circulation around the refrigerator and/or freezer - refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

Check that the doors seals are clean and tight fitting. If the seal is good it will be difficult to slide a piece of paper between the seal.

Avoid unnecessary opening of doors.

If you have more than one refrigerator, switch off the additional one when it is not needed.

Regularly clean any visible coils behind your refrigerator.

Use small appliances like a microwave, electric kettle, vertical grill, electric frypans and mini ovens because they are more energy efficient than using your stove.

Ensure the seals on your oven are in good condition.

Open the oven door only when necessary during cooking as heat is lost and energy wasted every time the door is opened.

Standby power is the energy consumed by an appliance while plugged in but not performing its primary function. It can also be described as the minimum power an appliance consumes while it is still connected to the mains.

Switch appliances off where you can instead of leaving them on standby.

Turn appliances off at the power point or unplug the ones you only use occasionally.

When you need to buy an appliance such as a fax machine, computer or printer, use the Energy Star label to assist your purchase decision. In the future, the Energy Rating Label will also provide a figure showing the standby power consumption for appliances such as dishwashers, clothes dryers, washing machines etc.

The most significant opportunity for reducing lighting energy use is the replacement of incandescent globes with compact fluorescent globes and fluorescent tubes. The initial higher capital costs are recouped through substantial energy savings, approx 75%, and the longer life of compact fluoro globes and tubes 8 - 10, 000 hours compared with 1000 hours of incandescent light.

For general lighting use fluorescent lighting in the kitchen, lounge, family room and other areas where lights are on for more than 4 hours a day.

Choose lampshades of light colours so they don't absorb light.

Lights which hold multiple globes are less efficient than those with a single globe e.g. 6x25W globes are needed to provide the same light as one 100W globe.

Dimmer switches can save energy but beware, a light dimmed down to one quarter of its input still uses half the energy. If you need to dim consistently, put in a lower wattage globe. Note that some dimmer switches cannot be used with compact fluorescent lighting.

Compact fluorescent globes are available from most supermarkets.

Regularly clean light fittings and lampshades.

Front loading washing machines can use up to 40% less water and 50% less energy than top loaders of the same capacity.

Use Energy Ratings to select energy efficient clothes washers and dryers - the more stars the more energy efficient.

Wash clothes in cold water and use the sun to dry clothes whenever possible.

Avoid washing more loads than necessary - washing a full load or only a few socks uses the same amount of energy.

Run the dryer with full loads, but don't overfill.

Clean the dryer lint filter after each load.

Select the lowest water temperature and shortest washing program that will satisfactorily wash the load.

Eliminate the drying cycle if possible - switch off the dishwasher after the final rinse and open the door to let dishes air-dry.

Check the filter after each wash and clean if necessary.

Remove large food particles from dishes and run shorter wash cycles.

Load the dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Run the dishwasher only when full.