Saving energy

Space heating

Heating your house accounts for about 29 percent of your bill.

• Only heat rooms that are being used.
• Draught-proof doors and windows.
• Seal off open fireplaces when not in use.
• Use curtains, preferably those that are lined and floor-to-pelmet (or touching the window sill), and close them at night.
• Maximise the sunshine into your home in winter by keeping curtains open during the day and cut back trees that shade north-facing windows.
• Because polished strip-timber floors leak air through the joints, reduce draughts and heat loss from these floors by insulating underneath them.
• Use thermostats and timers on electric heaters.
• Insulate ceilings and, if possible, walls.

For more information on home heating options and products, visit www.consumer.org.nz

Water heating

If you have an electric hot water cylinder, water heating uses up a whopping 30 percent of your power bill. But there are simple things you can do to make your hot-water system more efficient and save you money.

• Fix dripping hot taps.
• If your hot water cylinder doesn't have a 'Grade A' label, wrap it with a cylinder blanket.
• Insulate the first metre of hot water pipe from your cylinder.
• Have a user-adjustable thermostat fitted and set it to 60°Celsius.
• Use a low-flow shower head to supply water at 6 to 9 litres per minute.
• Limit showering time – a short shower uses much less hot water than a bath.
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Fill the kettle or jug from the cold tap and only heat the amount needed.

For more information on water heating options and ways to save money visit www.consumer.org.nz

Lighting

Lighting makes up about 8 percent of your power bill.

• Use compact fluorescent lightbulbs in high-use areas.
• Turn lights off when leaving a room.
• Maximise the use of natural light.

For more information on lighting options and energy efficiency, visit www.consumer.org.nz

Cooking and refrigeration

Cooking makes up about 7 percent of your bill and refrigeration makes up about 11 percent.

• Use a microwave or pressure cooker where possible.
• Use a steamer over a pot to cook more than one dish at a time.
• Buy energy-efficient appliances.

For more information on cooking and refrigeration, including the best appliances for your needs, visit www.consumer.org.nz

Other tips

Washing machines, dryers, televisions, power tools, computers, and other electrical appliances make up 15 percent of your bill.

• Rather than use a dehumidifier, ventilate the house and extract moisture at its source using rangehoods and bathroom fans.
• Buy energy-efficient appliances.

More information

RightLight
Helping you make energy efficient lighting choices.

EECA Energywise
Practical information and advice to help you make energy efficient choices at home and on the road.

Saving energy at home – the Consumer guide
Simple ways you can save energy without blowing the home maintenance budget.