10 top tips to reduce your energy use

Whether you’re moving in to a new home, or changing the one you are currently in, we would all love to see our energy consumption go down. Some of us do it to save some money, others to become ‘greener’. But actually, you may be doing both! Here are some tips to apply to your daily routine from our Conveyancing Manager Jodi Walsh!

1. Switching your appliances
   People often change their household appliances during a home move. But, a bargain in the moment can bite you in the longrun. Spend some time researching energy saving appliances before making the final decision. You can do this online or in stores by checking the energy rating label or asking one of the shop assistants.

2. Motion sensor light switches
   There are some spaces in our house that we only visit occasionally, where a light switch left on will stay on. Especially with children that like to explore the house, switching lights off can easily be forgotten. Think of the basement, garage, pantry, walk-in wardrobe, toilets, outdoor and even some hallways. Motion sensor switches turn the lights off when there is no movement in the area and can save you some noticeable dollars.

3. Forming a new habit
   New habits or creating structure around daily life can help you be energy efficient. Operate your dishwasher with full loads; boil the kettle with just enough water; keep powerpoints switched off; teach the kids about electricity; close doors and curtains in rooms not in use to keep them cool; take shorter showers. There are just some of the ways you can become more aware of your energy use.

4. Off peak / shoulder and peak periods for energy consumption
   Take a look at your energy bill. You will notice you are being charged more for electricity being used during “peak periods”. Peak periods vary between utility providers but are often daily between 2pm – 8pm. Try to use limit your energy consumption during this “peak period”. Doing some loads of washing in off peak hours can can save you some dollars.

5. Solar panels
   You see them more and more these days and thats a good thing, because they have made a big impact both financially and environmentally! It can be a great investment, and there are various government funded solar panel initiatives. This means you benefit from a discount or grant by switching to solar panels.

6. Replacing your light bulbs
   In Australia, lighting accounts for 10% of the average household electricity budget. Energy-efficient light bulbs could save you up to 80 percent off your lighting costs and last 5-10 times longer. LED bulbs use less power and last longer. Some states and local governments even offer assistance for LED bulbs.. Nowadays the energy-efficient bulbs have surpassed the regular white light and there are a lot of options available.

7. Cold water for washing
   And we don’t mean washing your clothes in a creek. Laundry machines and washing powder will deliver the same results when used with cold water. On average, washing with cold water could save you $70 a year.

8. Get the best energy deal
   One of the easiest ways to reduce energy costs is to compare energy offers and choose the best deal. With comparison sites and attractive offers its now easier than ever to switch your provider. If you are shopping aorund, make sure you keep an eye out for any cancellation charges or limited-time-only offers. State governments usually provide free and independant price comparison tools online.

9. Dry your clothes the old fashioned way
   Despite being one of the biggest energy users, clothes dryers are the easiest appliance to deal with when looking to reduce your energy costs. A 5-10kg clothes dryer can use up to $3 of electricity per load. If you use your dryer 3-4 times a week, that adds up to around $50 per month or nearly $600 per year. The sun does the same thing for free.

10. Reward yourself
    Saving up that extra money is great, especially when you can reward yourself with it. Kids will learn how to save energy and get a nice day out or some new toys as well. It’s win win. Don’t have kids? Maybe you fancy a holiday?

Besides saving costs on your energy bill, you could also save money on your home purchase or sale. By working with the right conveyancing lawyer, you can check if you’re eleigble for things like the first home owners grant or stamp duty concessions, but we will tell you about that another time!

Happy saving!

Jodie Walsh

Legal Support Team

Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Jodi joined lawlab in 2016. Since then she has held multiple positions within the firm. Starting out in the Settlements Team at our Nyngan office and moving to Sydney as a Legal Adviser. Since returning from maternity leave Jodi has joined out Support Team, in her free time you can find her looking after her beautiful newborn, Noah.