5 energy saving apps to help you save money amid rising energy costs

As the seasons change and you start using more electricity to combat the weather, it can be hard to stay ahead of your energy consumption. Whether you’re blasting the aircon to stop yourself from overheating or snuggling up next to the heater on a cold day, there are ways you can better manage your energy consumption and save money on your electricity bills.

Our number one tip for reducing your power bill is to switch energy providers but on top of this, there are also a couple of apps you can download that can help you to reduce your energy consumption and save money.

Here are five of our favourite apps that we recommend you check out:

Energy Rating Calculator App

Did you know that there is a free Energy Rating Calculator app developed by the Department of Environment and Energy? Similar to the energy rating labels that you see stuck to appliances like fridges and TVs that give you a snapshot of the energy efficiency of the product, the app lets you enter all the relevant product information and it will show you how much that particular model or appliance will cost you to run each year. It even has a compare feature that lets you compare the energy efficiency between models to help you find the most efficient option.

Cost: Free!

Available: iTunes or Google Play

Light Bulb Saver App

Have you ever thought about swapping your old light bulbs out for more energy efficient ones? The Light Bulb Saver App is a good resource that can help you figure out how much money you could save by switching to an LED or CFL bulb. All you have to do is enter the details of your current light bulbs, including how many watts/lumens it uses. For instance, if you currently have a 40 Watt incandescent light bulb, the app will tell you that you could save around $86 over 10 years by switching to an LED bulb or $83 over the same amount of time, by switching to a CFL bulb*.

The app also allows you to adjust the purchase price for each bulb, giving you a more accurate idea of how much you are saving after the cost of buying the new light bulbs.

Although switching out your old light bulbs may not seem like a lot of effort in the short term, making this change could help you save money in the long run and it is also better for the environment!

*The Light Bulb Saver App estimates savings based on an average use of 3 hours per day, per light.*

Cost: Free!

Available: Google Play and iTunes

Wattcost

Designed by a Sydney-based start-up, the Wattcost app works hand in hand with their product, the Wattcost Beacon to help you track your daily energy consumption.

The Wattcost Beacon is a wireless device that captures real time energy data from your fuse box and feeds it back to the Wattcost app on your smartphone. The app analyses the information and suggests how you could cut your power usage and save money and it also provides potential safety measures that you could take. The app also alerts you of how much energy you’re using at different points during the day and it uses the weather and past usage data to advise you on the cheapest times to run your appliances. You can also receive safety alerts if the Wattcost Beacon detects that an appliance has been left on or if the fridge door has been left open.

Cost: App, free. Wattcost Beacon, $199 + postage 

Available: The app can be downloaded on the Google Play store or the Apple App Store

Powerpal

Similar to Wattcost, Powerpal comes in the form of an app and a Home Energy Monitor device. Together the two are designed to help you track your energy use in real time, allowing you to review how much of a dent each appliance is making in your energy bill.

Once hooked up to your meter, the Powerpal Home Energy Monitor and app can help you save money by showing you your personal energy usage statistics so you can make smarter decisions about when to run certain appliances. You can also review how your home uses energy and this can help you decide whether you could be saving money by switching to a renewable energy source such as solar power.

The app also gives you a weekly energy tracking report, detailing approximately how much you’ve spent and how it compares to the previous week. Another feature that the app offers is that it lets you set yourself a monthly spending target.

You can find more information on the meters that are compatible with Powerpal Home Energy Monitor on Powerpal’s website.

Cost: App, free! Home Energy Monitor $129 (at the time of writing)

Available: App, the Apple App Store or Google Play. Home Energy Monitor, can be shipped anywhere in Australia (at the time of writing)

JouleBug App

If you are worried about your carbon footprint and want to learn some easy ways you can lower it, the JouleBug App is for you. This app focuses on lowering your carbon footprint in a fun way,  rather than reducing your energy costs by making big drastic changes.

The JouleBug App, suggests everyday habits that you can adopt to help improve your carbon footprint and this can also help you save money on your electricity bill. Once you’ve completed an action, the app tells you whether you’ve saved money, reduced your carbon footprint or both!

The app also allows you to connect with others, so you can encourage others to participate and even turn your sustainable endeavours into a fun competition with friends and family!

Cost: Free!

Available: Google Play and the Apple App Store

Want to save even more money on energy? It might be time to review your current energy plan and find a cheaper option.

While downloading nifty energy saving apps to help you track and reduce your energy usage is a good place to start, it’s not the only way you can cut costs on your energy bill.

As well as adopting better energy habits, reviewing the deal you’re getting with your current energy provider and switching to a cheaper plan can also save you a lot of money in the long run.

Don’t know where to begin? Head to Mozo’s energy comparison tool, to see what offers are available in your area. Or check out our range of energy saving guides to see what other tips and tricks you could be using to save money on your energy bill.