Winter is often the season where energy bills can get out of hand if you don’t try to reduce what you use. While you can grow an emergency fund in order to protect yourself from unexpectedly high bills, it makes more sense to put some energy saving tips in place ahead of time.
No one likes having to pay bills; even more so when financial means are already being stretched by the effects of the Federal Budget 2017. There are some expensive investments you can make to help lower your energy bills but there are also lots of cost-effective measures too.
At Debt Busters, we help people overcome debt and live more financially secure lives. Read about our energy saving tips and reduce your winter bills or visit our debt solutions page for options on managing your debt.
Invest in insulation
Poor insulation is a leading cause of wasted energy and will cost you more than a few dollars during the winter. Ceiling insulation is a very effective way of reducing heat loss but you’ll need to check what the optimal thickness is for your area in Australia.
Seal any gaps
While ceiling insulation will help to stop your valuable heat escaping, sealing any gaps in external walls, windows and floors will also help to do the same.
You can also seal your external doors by installing draught stoppers at the bottom and adding weather stripping around the frame. The same goes for your curtains as you could install a special tight-fitting, insulation alternative. In addition to this, always try to remember to close blinds, curtains and windows in order to keep as much heat in as possible.
Reduce your hot water usage
Yes, hot water is a godsend during the colder months of the year but it can cost an arm and a leg. Unfortunately, some estimates put hot water as being responsible for 20% of the average family’s energy usage. This is even more worrying when you consider that much of this could be wasted.
Start by turning down the temperature on your water heater system so that the temperature is warm instead of scalding hot. You can also reduce your hot water use by adjusting your washing machine’s water intake to suit the size of the any given load. Additionally, start to rinse dirty dishes with cold water and if you use a dishwasher, only start it when it’s completely full.
Add on extra layers of clothing and lower your thermostat
No one likes being cold but if you’re trying to save money you can simply throw on a jumper to stay warm. Think about cutting down on your heating by lowering your thermostat to between 18-20°C. Why this magic number? Well, lowering your thermostat to this temperature could save you up to 10% on your heating bill.
If you have a central heating system with zoning options, then just turn off your heating in rooms that aren’t being used. It’s possible to go even further by setting the time you’d like your heating to turn on and off. Turning it off before you go to sleep and having it turn on before you return from work is a great way to keep your heating costs down to a minimum.
Turn off lights and switch to energy efficient bulbs
It’s amazing how many people still haven’t switched to energy efficient bulbs and will happily leave lights on when they aren’t even necessary. Shockingly, it’s said that about 6% of the average household’s energy expenditure comes from lighting. When you factor in waste, it’s literally the same as throwing money away.
Always remember to turn off lights whenever you leave a room and think about installing lamps instead of illuminating an entire room with the main lights. However, if you want to be really smart, you can just put everything on automatic timers to help you in case you have a habit of forgetting.
Shop around for better deals on your utilities
When you think your energy bills are too high, you shouldn’t be afraid to shop around for something better. Thanks to the Federal Budget 2017, more detailed information on pricing and supply should become available over the next year. So, now is a great time to check out what the competition is offering and see if there are any energy saving offers out there.
If you’ve been wondering how to save energy, we’re glad to have given you a few energy saving tips that will make a real difference. While there are other ways to save energy, our 6 energy saving tips should be treated as a priority. If you’re worried that your energy bills are going to cause you financial bother this winter, Debt Busters can help. Get in touch with our friendly team today and find out how we can assist you in reducing your debts and gaining back your financial control.