5 energy vampires sucking your wallet dry

Zombies, werewolves, vampires - there’s a chance you might have enjoyed movies and stories involving these mythical creatures growing up. But what if we told you there is a type of vampire that’s very real and could be sucking not your blood, but your wallet dry. 

That’s right, we’re talking about energy vampires - the household appliances that are draining your household budget. 

While you might have already welcomed them into your home, the good news is you can do something about it to keep them under control. We’ve jotted down the top five energy vampires that could be lurking in your home and what you can do to ward them off! 

Heater 

There’s nothing better than cozying up by the heater with a cup of hot chocolate, but unfortunately that feeling could be short lived once your energy bill arrives. For instance, let’s say you leave your heater on for six hours a day, adding $14.88 a month to your bill. Over the course of winter, that number jumps to $44.64*.

What you can do:  As the days get cooler, instead of reaching for the heater, try rugging up with some more layers. This will help lock in the heat and keep you toasty during winter. Another option might be to use a hot water bottle to keep yourself warm overnight. 

Air conditioner  

If your household prefers an air conditioner during both summer and winter, there is still the potential for bill shock. Following a quick number crunch, we found that leaving your air conditioner on overnight for eight hours could be costing you $188.16* during winter and $309.12* in summer. 

On the other hand, an outdated system may also be the culprit for soaring electric bills. According to recent data from Mitsubishi Electric, older air conditioning models can use as much as 40% more electricity than newer models. 

What you can do: If it’s been a minute since you last gave your system an upgrade, you might consider investing in a more efficient system. Or if that’s not in the cards for your household’s budget, try keeping your air conditioning temperature between 18-20 degrees in winter and 22 and 25 degrees over summer. 

Refrigerator 

Next up is the refrigerator, clocking in at $33.60 a month or $403.20* a year. While you can’t necessarily turn your fridge off at the end of the day, there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re using it efficiently.

What you can do: Funnily enough, your refrigerator works best when it’s at its capacity, so make sure it’s always stocked with your favourites. Another tip is to give your fridge a good clean from top to bottom - it’s important to make sure you also get the dirt and grime out of the coils. 

Television 

It can be said that a television is a staple appliance in many Aussie households. After all, it can bring people together, help you pass the time or act as background noise as you work from home. 

According to data analytics company, Nielsen, the average Aussie watches television for two and a half hours everyday or 17.5 hours a week. Over the course of a year, that contributes $92.40* to your electricity bill - and that’s not including any entertainment systems you might have hooked up to your TV!

What you can do:  Reduce your TV’s electricity consumption by limiting the hours it’s switched on during the week. And if you’re in need of a new way to create some white noise, try downloading a free app that plays sounds while you work. 

Dishwasher 

The last appliance on our list is the handy dishwasher, which has the potential to add $208.32* to your annual energy bill (assuming you run your dishwasher for two hours a day). While that might sound like a hefty price for some shiny cutlery, there is research that proves it is the more eco-friendly option. 

According to a study by the University of Bonn in Germany, if you were to wash 144 items by hand, you’d go through 100 litres of water! A dishwasher on the other hand only needs 13 litres of water to do the same load. 

What you can do: Try to do full loads of dishes instead of multiple smaller, half full loads wherever possible. Opting for colder washes can also help you reduce your energy use, as less electricity is used to heat up the water. 

Want more energy saving tips to get you through winter? Then make your next stop our energy savings tips hub!

*Prices calculated using the Ergon Energy Appliance Running Cost Calculator