Saving power with these top EnergyWise tips
Taking electricity action at home
There are many simple things you can do straight away that don't cost a cent, but do make a difference.
Switch off:
- Turn off towel rails during the day. You'll save 5% of your power bill
- Save another 5% by turning off appliances such as your TV, VCR, stereo, microwave, washing machine, dryer or dishwasher at the wall so they're not wasting electriciy on standby
- Switch off lights when you leave the room
- If you have a second fridge or freezer, empty it and switch it off.
- If everyone switched off their extra fridges or freezers, it would save 7% of the electricity used by New Zealand homes.
- Wash clothes in cold water and dry them on the line as much as possible before you use the dryer.
- Only heat the rooms you're in
- Don't bath - shower, and keep your shower shorter. Together these steps can save 5% of your power bill.
- If every New Zealander spent two minutes less in the shower and didn't take baths it would save 2% of the electricity used by New Zealand homes.
- Repair leaky hot water taps - they could be responsible for up to 2% of your power bill.
Invest in energy savings.
There are many low-cost ways you can invest in energy efficiency that will help not only this winter, but in winters ahead. These ideas will save you money on your power bill every day of the year, not just when the lakes are low.
Install a hot water cylinder wrap. The biggest power consumer in your home is your hot water cylinder. If it is warm to touch it could be wasting almost half of the electricity it consumes. You can insulate it for around $70-$120 and save up to 10% of your power bill. Ask at major hardware stores or look under insulation in the Yellow Pages.
If every household with a hot water cylinder more than 15 years old (C and D grade) installed a wrap it would save 5% of New Zealand's residential energy use.
Install energy efficient lights. About 10% of your power bill goes on lighting. Replace the five standard light bulbs you use most frequently with compact fluorescent light bulbs and you'll save 5% of your power bill. Because energy efficient lights also last longer you will need to change your light buIbs less often.
If every household replaced five frequently used light bulbs with a compact fluorescent bulb it would save 5% of New Zealand's residential electricity use.
Stop heat leaks! If your home was built before 1977 up to two-thirds of your heat might be going out your ceiling, windows or floors. A simple way to save electricity, and have a warm, comfortable home, is to stop draughts - use a snake under doors, block any unused fireplaces and put draught stripping around windows and doors. By investing a bit more and installing ceiling and under-floor insulation your house will be much warmer and the power bill lower.
If every home in New Zealand had ceiling insulation we would save 7% of residential electricity use.