5 winter energy saving hacks
Think of some no-brainer ways to save energy. Turn the heater down. Take shorter showers. Turn the lights off when leaving a room. We know those. But what about some lesser-known tips?
At sa move, we love a good budget hack, so here are five ways to cut your electricity bill this winter.
1. Kitchen cleverness
You’re about to cook some spicy chicken wings before the game starts. Preheat the oven to 200C, slide the wings in and wait for them to get crispy, right? Wrong.
A 3600W (watt) oven costs about $1.50 per hour to run, so they’re an energy-intensive way to cook. We’re not suggesting you eat raw chicken wings (trust us), but there are cheaper options to get a hot meal at home, such as air fryers, microwaves and slow cookers.
Based on a price of 42 cents per kilowatt hour, a 2200W air fryer costs about 92 cents an hour to run, a 900W microwave about 38 cents, and a 280W slow cooker… wait for it… only about 12 cents.
If you’re cooking or reheating a small meal, use a cheaper and quicker microwave or air fryer. Better yet, get to know a slow cooker. They’re easy, incredibly versatile, and when you open the front door, you’ll notice the aroma of a lovely veggie korma or beef bourguignon that’s been bubbling away for hours. How’s that for a warm welcome home?
2. Mother Nature to the rescue
Dryers are super convenient, and they make clothes toasty-warm. But we’re talking about saving money, so let’s look closer. A dryer can cost between $1 and $1.25 an hour to run. Throwing your towels, kids’ footy jumpers and everything in between into the dryer for hours every week will hike your bill faster than a 30-minute-shower-loving teenager.
Instead, hang your clothes outside and let the sun and wind do the work. Sure, it’ll take longer than it does on a typical February day, but if you’re not wearing them soon, does it matter? You can also invest in a clothes airer or two. Hang your clothes, place them in a warm room and you’ll be dressed to impress in no time.
3. It’s all in the timing
Before we continue, have a look at your power bill. Are you on a time-of-use (ToU) electricity tariff? If you are, you can adjust your daily habits to save money.
A ToU tariff means the price of your electricity changes depending on the time of day. Typically, the cheapest time to use energy is during off-peak times (12am–6am) and when the ‘shoulder rate’ applies (10am–4pm) but check the times with your retailer.
With a ToU tariff you can cut costs by using your appliances in the middle of the day or while you’re asleep. If your dishwasher has a timer, set it to start in the wee hours and you’ll wake up to clean dishes. Or if you’re working from home, wash your clothes in your lunch break instead of after work. The savings add up over the year. You can read more about electricity tariffs here.
4. Become a fan of fans
Let’s face it. It’s hard to brave a whole winter without putting the heating on. But when you do, running it as efficiently and effectively as possible is kindest to your wallet. Remember your science teacher telling you that hot air rises? They weren’t wrong. Here’s where ceiling fans come into play.
Ceiling fans cost peanuts to run – less than two cents an hour – and they’ll help keep the warm air closer to the ground where you need it most. That means you won’t have to crank up the heating to pump warm air up to where even a forward from the Boston Celtics won’t feel it.
If you’re investing in ceiling fans for your place, look for models with a winter setting. They’ll reverse the way the air circulates in winter and in summer you can switch them back to keep cooler.
5. Dress for success
It doesn’t make much sense to walk around in winter in a lightweight top, pants, and socks and have the heating on because you’re cold. These days, there are dozens of cozy options – think Ugg boots, thermals, Oodies, beanies and thick woollen socks. You may think you look a bit daggy but who cares? You’re saving money on heating.
Electric throw blankets are another great way to warm yourself. Just plug them in and put them over your legs or torso. They cost a few cents an hour to run and that’s much cheaper than turning on the heater. Just remember to turn them off!