Energy saving tips

Below are some changes you can make that may help lower your costs.

Ways to save

Father and daughter organising clothes into a washing machine

Father kid washing machine

Hot water usage

Washing with hot water can add up on your gas, as well as electricity and water bills. Most machine machines and dishwashers will have an "eco" mode, which washes clothes or dishes for a shorter time at a lower temperature. This feature can make a big difference, and not just on your gas bill.
There's nothing better than a hot shower on a cold winter's day - but you can have too much of a good thing. Shorter showers can help you keep your gas bill under control - and they're even better for your skin.
You can save even more hot water by switching to a low-flow shower head.

Grey sofa and blue carpet in bright airy lounge

Lounge image

Heating

Keep doors closed to rooms you're not using - this will keep warm air in the room you're in and save you heating rooms that aren't in use. You can also draught-proof your home by sealing any gaps or cracks to stop heated air from escaping.
Try not to overheat your room too. As tempting as it may be, overheating your room - even by a couple of degrees - can make an impact.
If double-glazing your windows isn't an option, the next best thing is to keep curtains or blinds closed when you're not home to keep the warm air in. This will ensure you come home to a warm house.

Mother child cooking

Cooking

Next to heating and hot water, cooking is where most households use their gas.

If a recipe calls for the oven to be pre-heated, consider skipping this step. Gas ovens reach temperature much quicker than electric ovens, so limit the total amount of time you have the oven heating by turning it on five minutes before you're ready to cook.
If your oven has a fan-force option, use this for your cooking. Most recipes will give the option to cook fan-forced at a lower temperature settings, which results in savings on your gas bill.

If you've tried the basics and are willing to invest more time or money for the prospect of future savings, you could try some of the following options.

Insulate your home

This one involves a bit of an up-front cost but will add up to huge savings in the long run. Insulation will keep your home warm in the winter but also cool in the summer, saving money on your electricity bill as well.

For extra points, think about double-glazing your windows. This can reduce heat loss or gain by 30% compared to single glazing, as well as reducing noise from outside.

Switch to instantaneous

The kind of hot water system you run can make a big difference to your gas bill. There are two main kinds - an instantaneous system and storage system. A storage system heats a large amount of hot water - usually between 135 and 170 litres - and keeps it hot ready for use throughout the day. An instantaneous system only heats the water as you use it, so the system doesn't waste gas on heating water that's not being used. Because of this, instantaneous systems are much cheaper to run and - even better - they won't run out halfway through your shower.

Lower the temperature

Even if you have made the switch to instantaneous, you can save money by lowering the temperature it heats to. If you don't mind lowering the temperature a few degrees, you can save in the long run.

While you're there, consider patching any leaks and insulating your pipework - this will save any wasted hot water or heat when the water is transported. If you're not sure how, contact a qualified plumber.

Sources

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Alinta Energy acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and conduct our business operations. We acknowledge the continuing connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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