Eight hot tips to help cool down your wallet this summer

The Australian summer has burned us all before, in more ways than one. But how do you keep your family cool, and cool down the cost of your bills at the same time?

With above-average temperatures being experienced around Australia, it looks like we’re in for a hot, dry summer. Nobody enjoys being shocked by their electricity bill, which is why we’ve compiled some hot tips to help you sweat less over money this summer.

1. Use your air-conditioner wisely

In a country where we’ve experienced numerous electricity supply outages due to too many people turning on their air-conditioners, it’s important to think smartly about the way you cool your house.

Setting a lower temperature means your air-conditioner has to work much harder to bring the room temperature down – increasing the cost of your electricity bills. Setting a timer before you go to bed also reduces the likelihood of leaving your air-conditioner running all night.

Quick fix? Set your system to work at 23-25 degrees, on a timer, for maximum efficiency.

2. Switch off appliances when you aren’t using them

Do you leave your TV on standby when you go to work or head to bed? Maybe you put your computer to sleep instead of shutting it down, or keep your internet modem on all night when you’re not using it.

Sorry to break it to you, but your appliances are heating up your home and burning through electricity. Energy researchers call this unwanted power usage “MEL” (short for miscellaneous electrical load). It’s estimated that you could be spending more than $90 per year on wasted electricity.

Quick fix? Turn your appliances off at the switch when you aren’t using them.

3. Use LED or solar-powered lighting

Making the switch to LED (light-emitting diode) lights can be an instant money saver, with new bulbs using approximately 75 per cent less energy than halogen light bulbs, and lasting up to 10 times longer than old bulbs. Solar-powered lights can also be a massive money saver. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where solar panels can be installed on your home, then this a great option to let renewable energy help reduce the cost of your bill.

Quick fix? Switch as many appliances over to solar power or use LED lights for a cheaper, cooler option.

4. Find smarter ways to clean your pool

The backyard pool is a massive drain on energy usage, which may come as a surprise to the average Australian. Having older pool pumps, or leaving automatic pool cleaners and filtration systems on all day can really add to the cost of your electricity bill.

This is why heading to the beach can be a cost-effective alternative. Manually cleaning your pool, though time consuming, can also save you a lot of money.

Quick fix? If you can, do most of the cleaning, and only turn on the pool pump when you need it most.

5. Check your plumbing

If your electric hot water system is an older model, it may be running during the day at peak times, which is when power costs most. Hot water systems also consume a fifth of energy produced by households. Installing a timer to turn your hot water off during the day is a great way to save power, and is something any licensed electrician can do. It’s also important to fix your leaky taps. A hot water tap dripping at one drip per second could waste up to $25 in a year.

Quick fix? Heating water unnecessarily is a heavy energy drain, so limit yourself to shorter, cooler showers in summer.

6. Close your doors and windows

It sounds simple, but people always forget to close their doors and windows before a hot day. If you’re lucky enough to catch a cool breeze the night before, open your house up. But make sure you shut everything before the temperature starts to rise the next morning. By ensuring your blinds are closed during the day, you can protect your floors and furniture from warming up in the sun.

Quick fix? Naturally vent your house in the evenings when it’s cooler and keep your house shut during the day.

7. Turn on your fans

Upright and ceiling fans use less than 10 per cent of the energy needed for air conditioners. Sometimes, the cheapest way to cool off is the most effective. By having a cold shower and standing in front of a fan to dry, you can cool yourself off quickly and naturally.

Quick fix? Run your fan instead of your air-conditioner on cooler days.

8. Regularly compare the service from your electricity provider

One of the most important things to do is regularly compare energy plans in your area. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to do this. Prices fluctuate constantly, contracts expire and new retailers enter the market regularly. If you’ve never compared, or it has been over a year since you did, there’s a very good chance that simply switching to cheaper energy could save you hundreds over the year.

Quick fix? Compare your energy providers to find a better deal.

By following these tips, and approaching your energy consumption differently this summer, you could save yourself a lot of money while still keeping the temperature down. At the end of the day, it’s up to us to make sure we’re being proactive about our homes, and not being ripped off by our energy providers is one of the most important things.

So why not take the time to compare the cheapest deals available to you? When you use our service you get access to no mark-up policies from energy providers across Australia, making it easy to find the best deals in your area.

So compare energy plans in your area today and discover what you could be saving.

Here’s How You Do It

Step 1: Go to ElectricityandGas.com.au

Step 2: After answering a few questions, you will have the opportunity to compare quotes in your area and could be eligible for significant savings.