Tips and tricks to save energy this Autumn

As the sun sets on summer, it is important to think about your energy use, as your solar energy system will be generating less energy with less sunshine, so you will need to purchase more energy from the grid. This means that you could have an increase in your power bills. It’s important to remember that the savings with solar are made over a full 12-month period. So, when the seasons change it’s important to make some changes to how you use energy. Here are some tips and tricks to help you:

Switch to energy efficient light bulbs

LEDS use around 85% less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent lightbulbs. By replacing a single lightbulb, you can save $100-$300 in running costs and each LED lightbulb only costs between $3-$10. LEDs also last up to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs, so you will be enjoying the savings and having to replace them less often. We reckon that’s a real win-win.

Use your solar at the right time

It sounds like a no brainer but with shorter sunshine hours make sure to use the solar as it is being generated in your home. You can do this by using timers on your energy-hungry appliances, like dishwashers or washing machines, to operate when the solar is being generated. By using energy while it is being generated you will notice the benefits on your power bill.

Turn anything off that you won’t use in a while

Do you ever walk into a room and wonder why the light is still on? In the cooler months, it’s a great time to do a quick check to make sure any appliances or plugs you aren’t using switched off at the wall. Even if you aren’t using them, appliances that are still on at the wall will use standby power which will cost you money. Likewise, it’s always good to make sure that you turn lights off when you leave a room.

Block any drafts

It might not look aesthetically pleasing but using a towel or a blanket to block your door prevents heat from escaping. You want the heating that you pay for to actually heat your home. By blocking the drafts, you should notice that the room you are heating is warmer for longer and you aren’t spending as much on wasted heating.

Warm your home with sunshine

Before you leave in the morning open the curtains and pull up the blinds. This will allow your home to be warmed with sunshine. This means that when you turn on the heating in the evening you won’t need to heat the room from cold.

Air dry your laundry to avoid the dryer

Rather than looking to the dryer to dry your laundry, make the most of sunshine to do the job. This will mean that you don’t need to use the dryer and leaves your clothes with the crisp sunshine feeling.

Take care of your hot water cylinder

Energy can be lost from hot water even when it isn’t being used. Something easy that you can do is wrap your hot water cylinder and the first meter of pipe that comes off it. The pipe insulation and wrap is easy to get. You can install it yourself and it is reasonably priced. The other easy thing to do is to check the temperature of the water. It should be sitting at around 60 degrees celsius. Any hotter and it will be wasting power keeping itself heated. Some have a thermostat that you can adjust yourself, others require an electrician to help.

Looking to make bigger savings on your power bill?

Swapping your cook top from gas to induction will allow you to cook your food more efficiently. It will heat your food much quicker than a gas cooktop, and if you have a solar energy system installed, then you will literally be using sunshine to cook. Especially in the summer months when the sunshine lasts well past dinner time.

Another way to make significant savings is to review the insulation in your home. Insulation will prevent heat loss from your home meaning you need to use less energy to keep a comfortable temperature. Depending on the level of insulation this could save you up to 25% on your heating bills. Over a few winters we reckon that is a no brainer.