6 ways to save energy on your appliances
The average home has more than 60 electrical appliances that account for around one third of your energy costs. So there’s a huge potential for savings if you can use your appliances efficiently. Here’s how.
1. First and foremost, buy energy efficient appliances where possible. We’re not suggesting that you need to buy all new appliances right now, but when one needs replacing choose an energy efficient model. It will save you money in the long run and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the product. Most new appliances have an energy-rating label to help you make a choice and in some cases government rebates or incentives are even available.
2. Most of your big appliances (like the fridge, washing machine, dryer, television and computer) are turned on at the wall socket all the time, which means they are always using energy. While the fridge has to stay on, the others can be unplugged when not in use.
3. Speaking of the fridge, make sure its not using an unnecessary amount of power. If possible, position the fridge out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources like the oven or washing machine, which will substantially reduce your energy consumption. The door seal needs to be clean and without any perishing, so that the door closes properly. Let hot food cool down before putting it in the fridge or freezer. Fridges actually work more efficiently when they’re full so if you find that yours is mostly empty you might want to think about downsizing.
4. In the laundry, only wash when you have a full load and use cold water. If you’re purchasing a new machine front loaders tend to use less energy, water and detergent than top loaders. Minimise your use of the dryer by hanging clothes on the clothesline. If you need to use the dryer, make sure the lint filter is clean and that clothes are either spun or wrung out before they go in.
5. The same rules apply for the dishwasher – only run it when there’s a full load, and use the lowest temperature and shortest cycle you can. Scrape food from dishes and rinse them before stacking them in the machine. Clean the dishwasher once a month to keep it running efficiently. You can buy special cleaning pods or use 25 grams of citric acid in a hot cycle.
6. Small appliances can use a lot of energy too. Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle, rather than filling it all the way to the top. Thaw food in the fridge or in the sink rather than using the microwave. Put lids on saucepans when boiling them on the stove to reduce cooking time.
Related links:
Vacuum cleaning tricks you’ll want to know about
4 stains you shouldn’t use water to clean
More great vintage household tricks from the 1900s