Keep your electricity bill cool this summer

Keep your electricity bill cool this summer

The summer months are notorious not only for high temperatures, but also for high electricity use. There are a number of things you can do to conserve electricity and keep your electricity bill in check. Use the following tips to keep cool and keep your electricity costs down during the summer months. Electricity Facts and Tips Keeping cool Close windows and curtains early in the day before the house heats up on summer days. Once the temperature cools outside, open windows, curtains and blinds to let the cool air in. Use fans where possible - they use much less energy than an air conditioner. Drape a wet sheet over an open doorway or in front of a pedestal fan during hot days. It s nature s evaporative cooler! Set the thermostat on your air conditioner to between 24 26 C. Every degree lower will add 5-10% to your cooling bill. Clean the filters on your Air Conditioning units air inlets regularly to remove dust and fluff to maintain the unit s energy efficiency and also have the system serviced annually. Close interior doors so you re only cooling the spaces you need. Avoid using appliances that produce heat during the hottest times of the day. Use a BBQ to cook rather than your oven. Fridges Ensure the fridge temperature is set to 4 C and freezers to -18 C. Ensure there is space for air to move around the fridge and make sure the door seals are intact. Keep the condenser coils on your fridge clear of dust. Only use a dishwasher when you have a full load. Use the economy settings on your dishwasher when possible. Cooking When cooking avoid using oversized pans as they require more energy to cook food. Always cover your pots and pans the water will boil faster and use less energy to heat your food. If using an electric cooktop turn off the heat a couple of minutes before your food is cooked as the hotplate will take some time to cool down and will continue to cook your food. Washing and Drying When using the washing machine ensure your water level is adjusted to the load that you are washing. When using the washing machine use cold water only where possible. Limit using a dryer, dry clothes on the washing line or a clothes horse instead. When using a dryer, clean the lint from the filter before every use. Appliances Turn appliances off when not in use, preferably at the power outlet. Did you know that many appliances continue to draw stand-by power when switched off, which can contribute up to 10% of household electricity use. Try using power strips or power boards. With all your appliances all plugged into the same area, you ll have an easier time remembering to turn everything off.

Breakdown of a typical household s energy use: Heating and Cooling Water Heating Appliances (incl. Refrigerator, cooking etc.) Hot Water Facts and Tips Showering uses the most hot water in an average household. The average shower lasts 5 to 10 minutes. If you have a water saving showerhead, you would use about 7 litres of hot water per minute. This assumes that some cold water is mixed in. As an example, if you have an 8 minute shower, consumption is about 56 litres of hot water per shower. Use a shower timer to limit your water and energy use. Have a water efficient showerhead (at least 3 star) installed if possible. Repair any leaking taps as just 1 drop per minute can waste 127 litres per year. Lighting Did you Know? Your home can gain up to 87% of its heat in summer through your windows. Leaving appliances on standby can add up to 10% to your electricity bill, turn them off at the wall where possible. The average Australian Household has 67 appliances using mains power, most of which can be turned off when not in use. At Christmas having more people in the home will increase your energy consumption due to cooking, air conditioning, increased water usage etc. Average household electricity usage: Number of people in unit Summer Dec-Feb Autumn Mar-May Season (South East QLD) Winter Jun-Aug Spring Sep-Nov Yearly Average 1 9.1 kwh 8.3 kwh 8.5 kwh 8.2 kwh 8.5 kwh 2 14.0 kwh 12.6 kwh 12.2 kwh 11.7 kwh 12.61 kwh 3 16.2 kwh 14.5 kwh 14.8 kwh 13.9 kwh 14.8 kwh 4 20.8 kwh 18.3 kwh 17.2 kwh 16.9 kwh 18.3 kwh 5+ 24.8 kwh 22.0 kwh 21.8 kwh 21.8 kwh 22.6 kwh * these amounts are based on an average household in your localised zone. Individual usage will vary. * these figures are based on the average daily electricity usage * information obtained from www.energymadeeasy.gov.au

Typical Average costs of running appliances in the home Refrigerators Input Watts Approx Cost c/hr Cost c/use 60-85 litre Bar Fridge 125 1.4 140-220 litre Single Door (manual defrost) 150 2.0 320-440 litre 2 Door Automatic (cyclic defrost) 300 4.1 320-440 litre 2 Door (frost free) 400 5.4 510-610 litre 2 Door (frost free) 500 6.8 Cooking and Cleaning Input Watts Approx Cost c/hr Cost c/use Oven 1800 29 Toaster: 2 slice 1200 49 Electric Kettle 2400 65 Dishwasher - Hot Water 800 22 Dishwasher - Cold Water 2400 32 Cooling Input Watts Approx Cost c/hr Cost c/use 2500W (8500 BTU) Air Conditioner [Bedroom] 1000 19 5000W (17000 BTU) Air Conditioner [Living Room] 2050 39 Ceiling Fan 75 2 Pedestal Fan 60 2 Family Entertainment Input Watts Approx Cost c/hr Cost c/use Television - Plasma 420 11 Television - LCD 235 6 Television - LED 110 3 Playstation/Xbox 150 6 DVD Player 80 2 Washing and Drying Input Watts Approx Cost c/hr Cost c/use Large Top Load Automatic 800 22 Front Load 600 16 Clothes Dryer - 5kg 2400 52 Approximate costs calculated on $0.26 per kwh Energy Efficient Appliances Energy Ratings on appliances are based on official standardised testing and allows you to compare different model appliances of the same size. The rating also gives the energy consumption per year based on average use. For Example: a 2-star rated 400L to 500L refrigerator will use approximately 520 kwh/year, whereas a 4-star rated refrigerator of the same size will use approximately 336 kwh/year, a saving of 184 kwh/year or 35%. Energy Rating labels aim to: encourage buyers to select an appliance that uses the least energy for the service the appliance is required to perform enable buyers to take into consideration the annual energy cost of operating an appliance, and also its total (life cycle) cost For more information please visit http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

How much electricity does an appliance use? You can estimate the amount of electricity an appliance uses with the equations below. Note that these equations do not account for the power required by motorized appliances, such as air conditioners, dishwashers, and refrigerators. Additionally, these equations assume that the power supply is singlephase, which is typical for most homes. First determine the amount of power (watts) of the appliance. Manufacturers typically indicate the wattage on the back of the appliance. If the wattage is not given, look for the amperage (AMPS) and voltage (volts) listed on the appliance. To determine how much it costs to operate an appliance for a month, simply multiply the wattage times the number of hours the appliance is used and divide by 1000 to get the kwhs. For example, let s calculate the monthly cost of a 60 Watt light bulb used 5 hours per day: 60 Watts X 5 hours per day = 300 Watt hours 300 Watt hours X 30 days per month = 9000 Watt hours 9000 Watt hours / 1000 = 9 kwh 9 kwh X $0.25 = $2.25 Monthly cost to operate KWH conversion amps x volts = watts watts x hours used = watt hours watt hours / 1000 = kilowatt hours (kwhs) kwh X $0.26* = hourly cost *you can enter your cents/kwh rate from your bill to work out your own unique costs Helpful Links How to read your LPE bill - www./site/customers/how-to-read-your-bill Household Appliance Information - http://www.yourhome.gov.au/energy Energy Rating - http://www.energyrating.gov.au Water Rating - http://www.waterrating.gov.au Choice - https://www.choice.com.au Your Energy Savings - http://www.yourenergysavings.gov.au For more information please visit our website - http://www.