The cost of electricity across Australia ranges from 23c/kWh to 40c/kWh. The average home pays between $330 and $405 in quarterly energy bills, but these figures usually soar during the holiday season. The last thing you want after spending heavily on gifts, vacations, and special events is an enormous post-holiday energy bill.
Fortunately, you can easily curb your holiday energy consumption without spoiling the mood or fun of the season — here are five ways to do just that:
1. Take Advantage of the Sun
Make use of the sun’s abundant warmth and light — let it illuminate and warm your house or water instead of keeping the lights on and heaters running. You could even go a step further and install residential solar panels to supplement your main power supply with free electricity.
2. Switch to Energy-Saving Bulbs
During the holiday season, lighting alone accounts for a considerable chunk of the power bill, partly due to all the illuminated decorations. Save energy by replacing all the traditional incandescent bulbs around your house with CFLs or LEDs. These bulbs use at least 75 per cent less energy than incandescent lights, and also last longer. Opting for tree and house decorations fitted with LED bulbs could save you some money over the festive period as well.
3. Switch Off Idle Appliances
Make a habit of unplugging all electronics that are not in use, and always ensure everything is turned off before leaving the house. Encourage these practices during the holidays, especially when the whole family is around. Standby electricity can amount to as much as 10 per cent of the annual power bill.
4. Use the Kitchen Efficiently
The kitchen is another area where you need to be energy-cautious throughout the holiday season. Try observing some energy-saving practices such as:
- Keeping the oven door closed the whole time as food cooks
- Air-drying dishes
- Avoiding unnecessarily opening the fridge
- Optimising food portions when cooking
- Turning off the oven heat a bit early
5. Prevent Energy Leakage
A house can easily lose and absorb heat through its windows, doors, and poorly insulated roofs and floors, forcing the HVAC system to work extra hard to maintain a cosy environment. To minimise this wastage, keep the heating and cooling low in unused rooms and keep all the windows and doors closed when the HVAC is running.
Lighting up the fireplace is another great way to give the HVAC a break during cold weather. Just remember to open the dampers or crack a window to prevent the chimney from sucking away the warm interior air.
Think About Permanent Solutions
Energy conservation is an everyday issue — not just one for the holidays. So, consider looking for permanent solutions to lower your energy bills. Arise Solar installs residential solar systems that give homeowners a much cheaper and sustainable energy source. Visit https://arisesolar.com.au or call us on 1300 274 737 to get started on your solar power installation.
