Tips and tricks

Using cold water for laundry saves energy. Reserve hot water for tough stains only.

If it fills a 10L bucket in under 1 minute, it wastes hot water. Use a flow restrictor to save water.

A dripping hot tap is pouring money down the drain.

A family can save hundreds of dollars a year by cutting down their daily showers by a few minutes.

They're three times more efficient than electric heaters (electric heaters work well for smaller rooms like bedrooms).

Set your heaters (including your heat pump) to between 18-22°C, the ideal temperature range to keep you healthy and energy-efficient.

Close doors between rooms and close the curtains in the evening. Most heaters won’t be able to heat more than just one room, so shut the door and stay cosy.

Seal up any cracks and gaps in your house to keep the hot air inside and the cold air out. A good place to look is around your doors and windows.

This is the most important thing you can do to make sure your home isn’t losing heat. All rental properties must be insulated by law.

Opening your curtains when the sun’s up and closing them at sunset helps you make the most of the natural heat from the sun. Double layered or thick curtains that sit close to the window and extend all the way to the floor do this job best.

It’s much harder to heat damp air, so open a window or using an extractor fan while you’re cooking and showering to make sure there’s a way for damp air to leave the house.

Only use a dryer if you can’t hang them on the line, and never dry them inside.

A house using LED bulbs can save $100 or more a year compared to traditional bulbs.

Switch off your appliances at the wall when you’re not using them.

The more water you boil in your kettle, the more energy it uses. When having a cuppa, only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.

Check the energy rating label on your appliances. The more stars on the label, the less it will cost you to run.