The weather is heating up and that means air conditioners, fans and pool pumps will soon be running in households across the country as Aussies try to escape the heat.
Unfortunately, as our cooling appliances ramp up, so too do our energy bills. So are there ways to reduce your summer energy bill without compromising on cooling?
Canstar Blue spoke with Origin Energy’s General Manager for Customer Experience, Catherine Anderson, who said a spring clean at home can help offset energy costs in unexpected ways.
“We often think about it only in terms of making your home look and feel fresh, but behind the scenes, it can also help optimise the energy efficiency of your home,” she said.
Read on to discover a range of top energy-reducing spring cleaning tips.
Six spring cleaning tips to help reduce energy use
1. Clean your air conditioner
Clean and service your air conditioner before summer heats up to help improve its efficiency. A thorough clean includes the filter, condenser coils and fan coils, both on the inside and outside units attached to your system. You can do this yourself, or hire a professional to carry out a deep clean instead.
Origin also suggests running the ‘dry out’ function if your air con model has one This setting helps to evaporate moisture that gathers on the heat exchanger, preventing odours and mould forming in the system.
Need more air-conditioner cleaning tips? Check out Canstar Blue’s step-by-step air con cleaning guide.
2. Switch to energy-efficient appliances
While the upfront costs for new appliances can be significant, the long-term savings can be rewarding if you choose an energy-efficient model. If you’re considering purchasing an energy efficient appliance, familiarise yourself with the government’s Energy Rating website and consider any individual usage requirements that could put costs beyond the ‘average user’ range.
According to the Department of Energy, switching from a 3-star energy rated TV to a 7-star rated TV could save you about $86 per year. If you were to switch all of your big-ticket appliances to more energy efficient models, the savings could be significant.
Remember to consider your household’s energy requirements before purchasing new appliances and whether those requirements will change in coming years.
Find energy-efficient appliances with these early access Black Friday sales offers.
3. Clean your door and window seals
You’re no doubt aware of advice to block draughts in winter to keep your house warm, and the same technique applies to keeping your home cool in summer when the air conditioner is running. Origin advises cleaning the tracks of sliding doors, screen doors and windows to prevent cool air from escaping the room.
Compare cheap plans and prices
While you are considering your summer energy bill, check out some cheap electricity plans with the Canstar Blue tool below.
Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid energy network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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11% Less than reference price |
$1,614 Price/year (estimated) |
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18% Less than reference price |
$1,491 Price/year (estimated) |
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Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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10% Less than VDO |
$1,304 Price/year (estimated) |
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Here are some sponsored deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from our referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area and to see other products in our database that may be available. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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4% Less than reference price |
$1,990 Price/year (estimated) |
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4. Check your hot water system
According to the Federal Government’s energy department, 15%-30% of Australian household energy usage is from water heating, so ensuring yours is running efficiently can make a big difference to your energy bill. No matter what the season, ensure your temperature setting isn’t unnecessarily high, which increases its running cost. What’s unnecessarily high? It depends on the type of hot water system you have, so it’s always best to seek professional advice.
If you’re on holiday over Christmas and the New Year (or any time of the year) take the opportunity to turn off your hot water system and save on energy. Just remember to turn it back on when you get back home. According to Origin, when you switch your hot water system back on, it’s vital to run it at 60°C for 35 minutes before you use the water to kill any bacteria that may have grown in the system while it was turned off.
Concerned about your hot water costs? Canstar Blue shares some tips on how to reduce the cost of your hot water system.
5. Clean your solar panels
If you have solar panels on your roof you’ll want to ensure they’re running at full capacity and efficiency. Debris, such as dust, leaves and bird poo can reduce the performance of solar panels. A pre-summer clean is also an opportunity to look for any other issues with your panels, which you likely rarely see up close.
Origin can help customers to organise a solar panel clean or maintenance package (or both) through its website, or you can contact your original solar installer, or another trusted installer, for advice.
Want to clean your solar panels but not sure if you can do it yourself? Canstar Blue explains the dos and don’ts of solar panel cleaning in our expert guide.
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6. Renew or upgrade your energy plan
Spring cleaning your most energy-draining appliances will only get you so far if you’re on a low-value energy plan. According to Canstar Blue data, Australian households could save up to $387 on their energy plan by switching to the cheapest market offer available in their distribution area.
If you can’t remember the last time you switched electricity plans, it might be time to compare prices to ensure you aren’t missing out on a better deal. We’ve listed the cheapest electricity plans currently on our database for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia below to kickstart your journey. Alternatively, for a wider selection of offers in your area, head to our free comparison tool and type in your postcode.
Compare cheap electricity plans now
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision. Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Original reporting by Kelseigh Wrigley
Image Source: Maridav/Shutterstock
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