How to save money on energy during spring

Spring has nearly sprung, meaning that warmer, sunnier weather is upon us!

With the energy crisis continuing to increase energy prices and put even more of a strain on Aussie’s wallets, spring is a great time to cut down on your energy usage and save some money on bills.

You likely won’t need to turn on your heater or need the aircon just yet, so it’s the perfect opportunity to use less electricity around the house and cut the cost of your energy bill!

Here are some ways that you can save money on energy this spring!

How can warmer weather help me save on my energy bill?

• Instead of turning on the heater, why not open your blinds or shutters to allow the sun to heat up your home if it gets a bit cold? You can always throw on an extra jumper to reduce energy usage.
• If it’s still chilly in the mornings, you can turn your heater on for a little while to get the house back to outside temperatures but you shouldn’t need the heater on during the day. 
• In spring, the days get longer and it gets darker later so make sure you keep your blinds and shutters open to light your home naturally.
• Use the sun to your advantage and hang your wet washing outside instead of using your dryer.

Repair or replace old appliances

Spring is also a good time to consider repairing or upgrading your heating and cooling systems. Newer and regularly maintained appliances use less energy than older ones.

So, while the weather is milder and you don’t need to rely on these appliances, it’s a good time to do any necessary repairs or upgrades.

While it may be expensive to upgrade your appliances in the long run, it will cut down the amount of electricity you are using and this will reduce your energy bill.

Another way to reduce electricity usage from lights is to switch your light bulbs to more energy efficient options such as LED or compact fluorescent lightbulbs. These also have a longer lifespan, meaning that you’ll save money on replacing them less regularly.

In addition, you may also want to consider switching your outdoor lighting to solar powered lights. Solar energy from the sun is much better for the environment. Making this switch will also reduce your energy usage.

Spring clean your appliances

As well as repairing or replacing your heating and cooling units, you should also be cleaning your appliances so they aren’t using more energy than they need to be.

Your refrigerator is an appliance that needs to be regularly cleaned and checked. If the seals of your fridge are broken, your refrigerator uses more energy to keep cold. Make sure that you are regularly checking the seals so they are free of dirt and other debris. Ensuring that your refrigerator is clean allows the appliance to work better and this reduces the amount of energy it needs to operate.

Hot water is also a fairly expensive energy cost in most households but did you know that dishwashers are a more energy efficient option than washing all your dishes by hand? As long as your dishwasher is relatively new and has a reasonable energy-rating, you’ll be using less hot water all up!

Consider switching to a renewable energy source

Renewable energy sources are slowly becoming more popular among Australians as the government tries to push us towards a cleaner future. If you’re interested in switching to a renewable energy source such as solar, you could end up saving a lot of money. Yes, switching to ‘renewable’ can be a big investment at first, costing a minimum of about $6,000 for a decent system. But not only is it good for the environment, in the long run you’ll save a lot of money on your energy bills. According to the National Grid Support Service, “over the life of a solar system, an appropriately sized quality system can save you tens of thousands of dollars.” So it’s definitely worth considering to both lower your carbon footprint and save.

Review your energy plan and compare with other competitive offers

Our biggest energy saving tip is to compare your energy plan with other competitive plans to see if you could be saving money by switching providers.

The good news is, changing energy providers is not a hard exercise and you could make big savings by making the switch.

Still, many people are reluctant to change energy plans and instead stick with their current provider. If this is the case, there is also a way you can save by staying with the same provider.

If you’re willing to make the switch, this spring is the perfect time to compare providers. Energy providers frequently change deals and tariffs to better meet customer needs which means that there’s always new ways to save on your energy bill.

Looking to save on your energy bill? Head over to our energy hub to find and compare providers and plans in your area, or use our handy energy comparison tool below.