LED lightbulbs, shorter showers and cold water washes: How millions of Australians could save $850 a year by changing their energy usage habits
- Australians could have lower energy bills by making changes around the house
- Cold water washes, turning the lights off and using a clothesline will cut costs
- People are also urged to avoid peak energy times and have home insulation
Millions of Australians could be saving up to $850 a year on their energy bills by making a few adjustments around the house.
From switching to LED light bulbs to cutting down on shower time, comparison site Finder has compiled a list of simple tips to help people reduce their energy usage.
In a survey on more than 1000 people, 35 per cent were found to favour the dryer over the clothesline and nearly half said they would keep their appliances on despite not using them.
Millions of Australians could be saving a whopping $850 a year on their energy bills all by making a few adjustments around the house like changing light bulbs to LEDs (file image)
Energy expert Graham Cook said the habits were bad for people’s bank accounts and the environment.
‘Aussies are becoming increasingly savvy about their energy usage. This makes it all the more surprising that some are missing a few tricks to keep their bills down,’ Mr Cook said.
‘With the average power bill now priced at $1,338 per year, Aussies should be cutting back on electricity wherever they can,’ he said.
Nearly half who participated in the survey said they weren’t having shorter showers, while one in four admitted to having windows and doors open despite having the heater on.
Mr Cook said even making the smallest change in a household could leave people seeing big results on their energy bills.
Cutting down on shower time has also been revealed as one of the big tips to help slash energy bills (file image)
Australians can save more money on their energy bills by using a clothesline (pictured) instead of a dryer
‘Hot water is a big culprit when it comes to energy usage. Switching to cold water washes could save up to $150 per year, while ditching the clothes dryer could save you $79,’ he said.
Keeping the lights on, washing clothes with hot water and not having home insulation were deemed some of the biggest money wasters.
The expert also said there were peak times for energy usage in some contracts, and using power out of busy periods like 10pm-7am could mean a much smaller bill.
Comparison site Finder says having a home insulated would also reduce energy bills (file image of home insulation)
Mr Cook also urged Australians to check with their current energy provider to see if there were cheaper options.
‘If Aussies don’t make the effort to cut back on power, their bills will only increase. Make sure you’re current provider is giving you good bang for your buck – otherwise it might be time to switch,’ he said.