Tips for energy saving

Pre-cool your home before an On-Peak period starts

Give your home a head start on hot days; pre-cooling before it gets too hot means you'll use less air conditioning during On-Peak rate period.

Adjust your thermostat

Set your thermostat 2 to 3 degrees higher when you're at work or away for the day.

Clean your outdoor air conditioning unit

Before the summer arrives, make sure you clean your outdoor air conditioning unit. Dust, debris, and pollen accumulate in the unit throughout the year.

Keep air vents clear of obstructions

Blocked air vents significantly reduce the ease of airflow in your home. Making sure your vents are clear of obstructions can increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by up to 40%.

Avoid placing lamps, TVs or other electronics near your thermostat

Your thermostat senses heat from electronic appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Direction matters!

Run your ceiling fans to force air down to help circulate a cool breeze in your home.

Consider solar-powered LEDs outdoors

Install solar-powered LED garden landscape lights to increase outdoor visibility.

Plant some trees

Plant leafy trees on the south side of your home and evergreen trees on the north side – for shade in the summer and wind protection in the winter.

Use an outdoor clothesline

Hanging clothes to dry saves energy, extends the life of your clothes, and reduces heat gain in your home.

Adjust your fridge temperature settings

An ideal fridge temperature is 1°C to 4°C.

Adjust your freezer temperature settings

An ideal freezer temperature is –15°C to –18°C.

Vacuum the coils at the back of your fridge

Regular vacuuming of the coils not only helps your fridge run efficiently, but it can also prevent breakdowns and service calls.

Allow minimum clearance around your fridge

Make sure there is enough air space between your fridge coils and the wall. This will allow your refrigerator to operate at maximum efficiency.

Investigate your dishwasher’s cycle options

About 85% of your dishwasher’s electricity use goes towards heating the water. Try using the economy cycle which uses lower temperatures and less water.

Use oven lights to check on food

Turn on the oven light to look through the glass window instead of opening the oven door to check food.

Pre-heat your home before an On-Peak period starts

Give your home a head start on cool days; pre-heating before it gets too cold means you'll use less electricity during On-Peak rate periods.

Turn your thermostat down at night

Turning the thermostat down 2 to 3 degrees before going to bed can reduce heating costs.

Set your ceiling fan to keep warm

Run your ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to force air up.

Close your fireplace flue

Fireplaces and wood stoves are notorious for heat loss. Many people forget to close the flue after a fire dies out.

Clean or replace your furnace filter

Check your filter regularly to make sure your furnace is running at maximum efficiency.

Keep air vents clear of obstructions

Blocked air vents significantly reduce the ease of airflow in your home. Making sure your vents are clear of obstructions can increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by up to 40%.

Create a “charging centre"

Use a power bar with a timer to charge mobile devices at night. Set the timer to turn off during the day. Did you know that most chargers continue to draw power even after the mobile device has been unplugged?

Unplug your infrequently-used PVR

A PVR set-top box uses electricity even when it's turned off - it's called 'phantom' power.

Unplug your stereo

Stereos and home theatre systems can use a lot of electricity; unplug them when they're not in use.

Don't want to keep unplugging? Use a power bar with a timer!

Using power bars with timers are an easy way to save you from the hassle of unplugging multiple devices.

Use an advanced power bar and save electricity automatically!

Electronic devices left plugged in, even when turned off, still draw power. It’s called 'Phantom' power, and it can be combated with advanced power bars.

Install better insulation and weatherstripping

By investing in insulation and weatherstripping, you can save significantly on your heating and cooling costs year round.

Insulate your attic

Insulate or top up existing insulation – it could reduce your annual energy costs by 20% to 60%.

Look for ENERGY STAR when shopping for audio and video equipment

ENERGY STAR certified equipment is up to 50% more efficient than conventional models.

Wrap your hot water tank

Is your electric hot water tank in a cool or unheated area? Wrap it up in an insulating blanket.

Consider a tankless water heater

Consider replacing an old electric hot water heater with a new tankless water heater that only heats water on demand.

Switch to LED lights

Need to replace a light bulb at home? Install an LED bulb. Most last at least 25,000 hours and are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs.

Dust bulbs regularly

A clean bulb is brighter.

Install a dimmer switch

Turning down the light level can save electricity and extend the life of light bulbs.

Consider task lighting

Why light an entire room? Light only what you need.

Choose the right light temperature

Selecting the right colour temperature for a light bulb can make a big difference. A warm light is often used in bedrooms and living rooms. Bright whites are best for work areas and surfaces.

Don't forget to turn off the lights!

If you don’t need it, turn it off.

Do your laundry during Off-Peak hours

Laundry loads can add up; you can save on electricity costs by running your washer and dryer during Off-Peak hours.

Set the right water level

Select the appropriate water level for your load of laundry.

Wash with cold water

Washing your clothes in cold water can reduce electricity use by as much as 90% per load.

Operate your dryer with full loads

Dry full loads of laundry whenever possible, but be careful not to overfill your dryer.

Consider an ENERGY STAR washer

When purchasing a new washer, look for the ENERGY STAR symbol. ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers use about 25% less energy and 40% less water than regular washers.

Use LED underwater pool and spa lights

LED underwater pool and spa lights are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent and halogen pool lights.

Use a variable-speed pool pump

A well-designed variable-speed pump can reduce the energy costs of running a swimming pool by up to 90%.

Clean your pool filters regularly

To obtain maximum filtration and energy efficiency, clean your filters as part of a regular pool maintenance program.

Keep intake grates clear of debris

Clogged drains make your pool pump work harder. Make sure you keep your drains clean and clear as part of a regular pool maintenance program.

Reduce heat loss by using a pool cover

Uncovered pools can lose 30% of their heat, over 10,000 litres of water and expensive chemicals monthly, just through evaporation.

Keep your pool chemicals properly balanced

Properly balanced pool chemicals can help ensure maximum lifespan of your pool filters and better long term pool pump performance.