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.