Winter Energy Saving Tips For Your Home

The combination of soaring energy costs and the arrival of winter might have you worried about your next electricity bill.

We’ve put together some energy-saving tips that will help you save money on your bills this winter.

• Manage your peak energy usage

If your energy plan includes tariffs for peak and off-peak usage, you can save a lot of money by using electricity during off-peak periods.

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to do this is by setting timers for your heavy usage items. Heating and cooling can make up to 40% of your electricity bill, so this is a great place to start. 

Set timers for your heating system to warm your house at the most crucial times of the day. Having a timer to warm your home just before you wake up can make those dark winter mornings more bearable, and give you a chance to get into your winter knits in comfort. 

Similarly, your hot water system and underfloor heating should be set to only heat during off-peak periods where possible.

If you have solar panels installed, you can use the energy generated from them during peak periods to reduce the amount of energy you buy from the grid. By combining your solar panels with a battery, you can also store electricity to use during times of lower generation.

• Get creative

While energy-saving doesn’t have a reputation as the most exciting part of your day, there are creative ways you can beat the winter weather and save electricity at the same time. 

Some of our favourite winter-warming activities include:

• Get active – find a playlist you love and dance away the cold (with the added benefit of staying healthy and warm at the same time). If dancing is not your thing, you could try at-home workouts to get you moving and raise your temperature.
• Snuggle your pets – our furry friends are natural heaters, and a cuddle with your pet is good for the soul and the electricity bill! Break the rules by letting your pet on the couch, or let them curl up on your toes under your office desk. You’ll be amazed at how effective they are at warming you up!
• Add some layers  – make sure your wardrobe reflects the season, even when you’re inside your home. Add some extra layers to warm yourself up, such as a jumper, cardigan or scarf, and you might find you don’t need to run the heating after all. 
• Style your home for warmth – there’s a reason European countries love a good floor rug. Not only do they look great, but they are great for insulating your home and protecting you from the cold coming in through the floorboards.

• Get competitive

Did you know that some energy retailers offer rewards for saving energy? So not only do you save on your bill, but you also get the chance to cash in rewards if you meet your energy-saving goal.

Origin Energy has introduced ‘Spike’, which rewards members for reducing their energy usage during peak hours (SpikeHours). When you join, Origin calculates your SpikeHour Goals, based on your usual peak usage forecast, and if you meet these goals you are rewarded with bonus points that you can redeem for PayPal cash or gift cards for a range of major retailers including Coles-Myer, Bunnings, JB Hi-Fi and many more. 

There are also silver, gold, platinum, and diamond status levels and  ‘Prize SpikeHours’ where you can earn extra bonus points and entry into prize draws for the most competitive savers!

In the midst of all this energy-saving fun, don’t forget the basics. By getting into the habit of using best practices in your home, you can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Some of the most important best practices are:

• Set the heat between 18 degrees and 20 degrees celsius – every degree over uses 10% more energy, which adds up to a big deal for your bill.
• Only heat the spaces you use, not the whole house. Use timers so that you heat the areas of the house you use at different times of the day, for example, start heating your bedroom 15 minutes before bed, rather than keeping it toasty all day long.
• Turn all appliances off at the plug when not in use. Appliances in ‘active standby mode’, that are turned off but still switched on at the plug, use 5 to 10 times more electricity. The biggest culprits are televisions, computers and even washing machines. Taking the extra couple of seconds to turn these appliances off at the plug when you are not using them can add up to over $100 in savings each year. 
• Choose energy-efficient appliances – cheap heaters can use up to five times more electricity than a split-cycle air conditioner, so it’s worth making the investment.
• Use solar power if possible.
• Use your provider’s energy tracking app to stay in control of your usage (if available).

• Switch your plan

Not all energy plans are made equal. Each retailer has a variety of market offers to choose from, offering you different electricity prices, solar feed-in tariffs, discounts, incentives and conditions. Finding a plan that matches your needs can make you some significant savings, particularly while you’re using more energy than usual during winter.

Comparing electricity plans every 12 months is the best way to make sure that you are not paying more than you need to for your energy. 

It can be time-consuming to compare plans from the many energy companies in Australia. That’s where our comparison service comes in! Whether you are moving home or just looking for a better deal, the experts at Move-In Connect will make it easy. 

Our service is 100% free and not only will we find you the best deal from our panel of preferred providers, but we’ll also arrange the switch for you. All you have to do is sit back and save!

To get started, call us at 1300 786 045 or enter your details online.