From the laundry to the lounge, the energy saving tips that could help you save big

Winter is right around the corner and for many Aussies that means hot chocolate, dusting off their favourite jumpers and...bracing for a high energy bill. 

But if you’re determined to bring down the cost of your energy bill this winter, according to new research by Origin Energy, there are a few things big and small that you can do. 

Laundry  

Did you know that most of the energy to wash your clothes comes from heating up the water? Or that you don’t have to wash clothes in warm water at all? One easy way to reduce your energy consumption is to switch to cold water when washing your clothes. Just be sure to choose a detergent that’ll work best with cold water! 

According to Origin Energy, 21% of Aussies run multiple small loads of washing instead of fewer fuller loads. Washing machines use the same amount of energy for small and large loads, so keep usage to a minimum by only washing large loads of laundry. 

And when the weather permits it, hang your clothes out to dry instead of throwing them into the dryer.

Lights and the lounge 

Whether you simply forget or are using it to keep a furry friend occupied, leaving the TV on in an empty home can cause a spike in your energy bill. Origin Energy found that LED and LCD TVs are typically more energy efficient than plasmas, so if you do need to keep the TV on for whatever reason, it might be worth making the switch. 

In case you didn’t know, halogen downlights soak up more energy than compact fluorescent lightbulbs, so giving your lighting an upgrade may also be worth putting on your to-do list. Other easy ways to make sure your light usage is kept to a minimum is remembering to switch off lights in unoccupied rooms, using timers and sensors for outdoor lights and using the natural light as much as possible. 

Heating and cooling 

According to Origin Energy, household appliances account for around 33% of energy use, making them one of the biggest areas Aussie households can save on over the long term. One idea might be to invest in a good quality split-system unit, as a 2.5 star rated air conditioner could be costing households 85% more than a 7 star unit. 

What’s more is that by investing in a 5.5 star reverse-cycle air conditioner, Aussies can reportedly save households between $2,076 and $3,140 over 10 years! 

One easy way to save $544 a year 

But if you really want to make a difference to your energy bill this winter, why not switch to a better value plan? 

According to a recent Mozo number crunch, households have the potential to save $544 a year on average just by making the switch.

So what are you waiting for? Enter your postcode below to get started!