Heating & energy

Saving energy

Updated: 20 May 2009
Saving-energy-hero

Introduction

You don’t have to install expensive appliances to knock $$$ off your power bill. Small and cheap steps can make a difference.

If turning your home into a model of energy efficiency is a bit daunting, don't despair. There are many simple ways you can save energy without blowing the home maintenance budget.

We identify the major causes of energy loss in the home, reveal the most power-hungry appliances and suggest strategies for reducing your power bill.

See our guide to appliance running costs for detailed information on what appliances typically cost to run.

Quick tips

Small steps

These tips cost nothing and save cash:

  • Get the right power plan - in Wellington a medium household can save more than $200 a year. Go to powerswitch.org.nz to compare costs.
  • Turn off lights when leaving a room.
  • Close curtains and windows at sunset in the winter. Heavy and closely-woven full-length curtains conserve more heat.
  • Repair leaky taps. One dripping hot tap could cost you $80 a year if you left it dripping that long.
  • Turn down your hot water cylinder - it doesn’t need to be above 60°C. This will save you around $25 per hot water cylinder a year. 
  • Turn off that old beer fridge and save up to $120 a year.  

Cheap steps

    Energy saving lightbulb
  • Install a water-efficient showerhead. To find out whether your showerhead is wasting water, time how long the head takes to fill a 10-litre bucket. If it’s less than a minute, you’re better off with a more economical head. These cost $40 to $100 and can save a family of four about $300 a year.
  • Wrap your hot-water cylinder (cost around $75) and for around $15 insulate the first two metres of hot-water pipe nearest the hot-water cylinder.
  • Put compact fluorescent bulbs in the light fittings you use the most. These use around a fifth the electricity of a standard bulb.
  • Fill gaps in ceiling insulation.
  • Block draughts by sealing old chimneys, fitting weather stripping around doors and windows, or make a draught 'sausage'. 
     

 

Savings with appliances

Dishwasher

Two types of appliances help rack up your power bill. The first are appliances that use a lot of power while they’re going, but don’t run all the time. Dishwashers and dryers fall into this category. 

  •  Do cold water washes and wash only full loads.
  •  Dry your clothes outside when you can.
  •  Only put the dishwasher or washing machine on when it’s full.

The second group is less obvious - we’re talking microwaves, towel rails, DVD players and stereos. When several are left on all the time, the results hurt when the power bill comes in. 

  •  If you have a heated towel rail, try turning it on only when needed or add a timer to regulate the 'on' periods. 
  • Turn-off power-hungry electronics. Some use more power than a family-sized fridge. Leaving a Playstation 3 and plasma TV on all day would cost around $650 a year. Check out appliance running costs for the full story. 
  • Turn off your computer when it’s not in use. Screen savers don’t save energy so turn off the monitor if you’re going to be away for 20 minutes or more. Activate energy-saving features if you have them. 
  • Even standby power (the power used to keep appliances ready for action) can add up. If you have several products permanently on standby, your costs can add up to nearly $100 a year. Stereos, CD players, TVs, set-top boxes and the like can all be turned off at the wall.

Buying second hand

Buying a second-hand appliance could save you a bundle - or cost you one. Check the age of the appliance. Modern appliances are much more energy-efficient than older models. This especially applies to fridges, less so to washing machines.

 

Where does the money go?

Ever wondered what really gets your power meter spinning? We took the power bill for an average New Zealand house, broke it down into six parts, and identified just where the money had been spent.

Two adults and two children live in this all-electric, well-insulated, suburban Wellington home. The time of year is autumn/winter.

The family mostly take showers, but have the luxury of an occasional bath. An electric heat pump is used to heat the main living area, with thermostatically controlled oil-column heaters for the sleeping areas.

The kitchen has a fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher which is used on the eco-dry setting. All laundry is done with cold water, and the dryer is used as little as possible. A dehumidifier is run part-time to keep the house dry, and all lighting is incandescent.

Here is the breakdown of their power bill:

Useful links

We've produced many other reports which may help you figure out ways to save energy.

Other resources from Consumer

  • PowerSwitch - compare and save!
    Use our interactive database to find out which electricity company is cheapest for you!
  • Insulation
    Good insulation can give a major boost to your quality of life, and the money spent is a good investment. We outline the options for old and new homes.
  • Forced ventilation systems
    Does winter bring streaming windows, soggy wallpaper, mouldy curtains and a damp unhealthy feeling to your home? If so, you probably need to improve your ventilation.
  • Heat pumps
    We explain the different types of heat pumps, and tell you how to choose the right system for your needs.
  • Woodburners
    Today's burners are more efficient and much cleaner burning than models of yesteryear. Our database includes nearly 70 models.
  • Solar water heating
    A properly designed and installed solar water heating system can slash your power bill. 
  • Heat pump water heaters
    Cut your water-heating bill by two-thirds with our recommended model of heat pump water heater.

Appliance tests

In many of our tests, particularly whiteware, we include a measurement of energy use. This data may be shown as a rating in our table, or an actual estimate of running costs over a year. Also, we often include energy efficiency when calculating the overall score of models.

So if you're thinking of trading up any appliances, particularly whiteware, check our test results to find out which models are the most energy efficient.

Other useful websites