Reducing Your Energy Bills
Having trouble cutting dollars off your electricity bill from quarter to quarter?
The good news is the path to smaller bills can be done a few different ways. By using energy wisely and adopting energy-saving measures, you can save money and cut down on energy wastage at home while meeting your needs for convenience and comfort. You can also make significant energy savings by choosing energy-efficient appliances.
Where does your energy go?
A typical Australian household now spends around $1750 on electricity every year. This amount will vary depending on the age of your appliances, the size of your home, the climatic zone you live in and the energy prices you pay. This is a general breakdown:
· heating and cooling (40%)
· water heating (23%)
· other appliances, e.g. laundry, AV and computers (14%)
· fridges and freezers (8%)
· lighting (7%)
· cooking (5%)
· standby power (3%)
How much can you save?
According to the Australian government (environment.gov.au), these simple actions could save a household about $605 over the course of a year.
· Getting rid of the second fridge, if you’ve got one, could save around $172 a year.
· Switching off the game console after use could save up to $193 a year.
· Using the clothesline once a week instead of using the dryer could save around $79 a year.
· Installing a water-efficient showerhead can save a two-person household at least $160 a year on energy and water costs
Smart Appliances that will save you money
An average Australian household saves about A$6 per week from appliance energy efficiency.
Air Conditioning
The most efficient heating and cooling technology for most homes is a reverse-cycle air conditioner. But they're still an energy intensive appliance so use them sparingly – every 1℃ adjustment means about a 10% difference in energy consumption. Although these air conditioners are relatively efficient, there’s a big difference in running costs between models.
5 kW reverse-cycle air conditioners
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Daikin FTXM50QVMA | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SRK50ZMA-S |
| $2099 RRP | $1225 RRP |
| $405 annual running cost | $539 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $134 |
Ceiling Fans
A ceiling fan can help reduce your energy bill by reducing your dependency on reverse-cycle air conditioners. They also make air conditioners more efficient by circulating the hot or cold air.
Ceiling Fans
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Aeratron AE2 | Ventair Malibu |
| $499 RRP | $349 RRP |
| 19Wh (high setting) | 78Wh (high setting) |
| $8 annual running cost | $34 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $26 |
Space Heaters
Space heaters are cheaper to buy, but far more expensive to run than a reverse-cycle air conditioner. They’re great for heating smaller spaces and can be moved from room to room.
Space heaters 2000w
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Heller OIL9- oil column | Kambrook KCE240GRY – tower |
| $70 RRP | $129 RRP |
| 1.1kWh | 2.1kWh |
| $55.4 annual running cost | $105.84 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $50.40 |
Washing Machines
Front-loader washing machines usually cost more to buy, but they use less power, water and detergent than top loaders. Also remember that one full capacity load will use less energy than two half capacity loads, so try to wait till you can fill your machine.
Washers (7kg)
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Samsung WA70F5G4DJW top | LG WD1200D front loader |
| $999 RRP | $799 RRP |
| 0.066kWh per run | 0.564kWh |
| $7.23 annual running cost | $61.76 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $54.53 |
Clothes Dryers
When it’s not possible to dry your clothes in the sun, a clothes dryer is an essential appliance. Work out whether a heat pump or a vented dryer is the best option for you.
Dryers (8-9kg)
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| LG TD-C902H heat pump | LG TD-C8031E condenser |
| $2749 RRP | $99 RRP |
| 1.32kWh per run | 4.02kWh |
| $59.40 annual running cost | $180.90 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $121.50 |
Dishwashers
Dishwashers are great because they’re more energy and water efficient than hand washing. Wait until your dishwasher is full before running it, and try your eco mode with a good quality dishwasher detergent. You may find it washes just as well using less energy.
Dishwashers
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Smeg DWAFI6314 |
Asko D5896 SSXXL |
| $1950 RRP | $2899 RRP |
| 0.54kWh per run | 1.43kWh |
| $59.15 annual running cost | $156.60 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $97.45 |
Televisions
Modern LCD televisions are far more energy-efficient than older plasma screens, but they still consume a lot of energy. Your AV gear is also a cluster of standby power consumers – chances are they're all in the same power socket, so it's easy to turn the whole lot off at the wall.
55” TVs
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| LG 55UH652T |
Samsung QA55Q7FAMWXXY |
| $1799 RRP | $3999 RRP |
| 262kWh pa | 513kWh pa |
| $78.60 annual running cost | $153.90 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $75.30 |
Computers
All-in-one desktops and more portable laptop computers are another essential in the modern home. Many households have several computers which stay on all day and night, so their energy consumption adds up. Power use varies between models, so consider what you'll be using it for and buy the appropriate desktop or the right laptop for your needs. If you only surf the net and work on the odd spreadsheet then you don't need a high-performance energy guzzler.
All-in-one desktop computers
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| ASUS Zen AiO ZN241ICUT-RA011T |
Dell Inspiron 27 7775 |
| $1299 RRP | $2379 RRP |
| 0.87 Wh standby power consumption |
0.99 Wh standby power consumption |
| 28.97 Wh active power consumption |
128.47 Wh active power consumption |
| 69 kWh total annual energy consumption |
288 kWh total annual energy consumption |
| $20.70 annual running cost | $86.40 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $65.70 |
Fridges & Freezers
Although you can’t turn your fridge off, there's a lot you can do to keep your fridge running at its most energy-efficient:
- Adjust your fridge to 3–4 degrees and your freezer to -18 degrees for the best balance between food safety and energy efficiency.
- Full fridges have a higher thermal mass, so keeping it well stocked means your compressor won't cycle as often, which will reduce energy use a little.
Also remember, bigger fridges use more energy because of the larger space they must cool, so choose the right fridge for your household.
Large Fridges (451-525L)
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Electrolux ETE4607SA 460L | Haier HFD462FS1 462L |
| $1715 RRP | $1499 RRP |
| 260kWh pa | 514kWh pa |
| $78 annual running cost | $154.20 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $76.20 |
Lighting
A home lit with halogen downlights will see your total energy consumption for lighting climb to around 1400kWh, or $420 a year. A typical home lit with 100W incandescent bulbs will use nearly 700kWh, or about $200 in electricity a year. Although halogens are typically lower wattage (between 35–50W) than incandescent bulbs, you typically need multiple downlights per room and each downlight also requires a 10W transformer. Switching from 100W incandescent to 14w LED light bulbs gives you roughly the same amount of light but reduces your energy consumption immediately by around $170 per year.
Light Bulbs
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| 14W LED globe | 100W incandescent globe |
| $0.0042 running cost per bulb per hour | $0.03 running cost per bulb per hour |
| $0.8 running cost for the home per day | $0.54 running cost for the home per day |
| $27.59 annual running cost | $197.10 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $169.50 |
Cooking
Smaller appliances generally use less power than larger ones. So for example, use the microwave instead of the oven and the toaster or sandwich press instead of the grill.
Wall Ovens
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Miele H 2661 B CleanSteel 60cm wide | Fisher & Paykel OB76SDEPX3 75cm wide |
| $1999 RRP | $4228 RRP |
| 0.52 kWh | 1.39 kWh |
| 81 kWh pa | 217 kWh pa |
| $24.30 annual running cost | $65.10 annual running cost |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $40.80 |
Microwaves
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| Ikea Varma 700w | Sharp R350YS 1200w |
| $299 RRP | $279 RRP |
| 2.23 kWh standby energy per year | 36.83 kWh standby energy per year |
| $0.67 standby cost per year |
$11.05 standby cost per year |
| 0.0792 kWh per plate reheated | 0.1110 kWh per plate reheated |
| $8.67 annual energy cost | 13.13 annual energy cost |
| $9.34 total annual cost, incl. standby | $24.18 total annual cost, incl. standby |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $14.84 |
Kettles
| Cheapest to run | Most expensive to run |
| KitchenAid 5KEK1222AOB | Kitchen Aid Pro Line 5KEK1522ACA0 |
| $179 RRP | $349 RRP |
| 0.21 kWh | 0.23 kWh |
| 77.55 kWh pa | 83.15 kWh pa |
| $23.25 annual energy cost | $24.95 pa |
| Difference in annual energy costs: $1.70 |
Is it worth it?
Aside from shopping for the best deal on your energy, choosing the most energy-efficient appliances over the least energy-efficient options, switching appliances off at the wall whenever possible and changing to energy-efficient lightbulbs, you can stand to save around $1000 a year on your electricity bill. And that's without changing your behaviour whatsoever.
