Save Money on Your Power Bill

Save Money on Your Power
Bills
Gavin Webber
It Doesn’t Cost The Earth To Be Green

Your Long-term Goal
 To reduce your energy bills
permanently, and pocket the
savings!
 To feel like you are in control
again!

Average Australian Home Energy Use
Standby, 3%
Cooking, 4%
Lighting, 7%
Refrigeration, 7%
Other
Appliances, 16%
Water Heating,
25%
Heating and
Cooling, 38%
Source: Your Home Technical Manual (http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs61.html)

First Steps - Electricity
 Review your current energy consumption
via your last two electricity bills. What is
the average daily use?
 Learn to read your power meter.
Understanding how much energy you're
using can help you reduce your household
electricity bills.

Consistency
 Pick the same time each day or week to
read your meter.
 Calculate your consumption by subtracting
your first reading from your current
reading

Meter Reading Example
 Todays reading 04549.2 kWh minus
 Yesterdays reading 04508.9 kWh
 Equals 40.3 kWh consumed in one day!
 40.3 kWh @ 25c per kWh = $10.07 per day
or an average over the 90 day billing period
of $906!

Take a Baseline
 Find your energy usage baseline by
monitoring for each day for a week.
 Don't make any changes during the first
week you are monitoring. Don't change your
behaviour at all.
 Record the average for the week

24 Weeks of Electricity
Electricity Consumption Daily Average (KWh)
-5.000
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10.000
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20.000
25.000
30.000
35.000
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W eek
KW h
Grid KWh
4 per. Mov. Avg. (Grid KWh)

Next Steps of Action
 Have a family meeting!
 Set some energy targets for the next few
months e.g. 10% reduction in the first week,
20% by week two etc.
 Make it a competition, give rewards to little
ones for remembering to do as instructed
 Take the time to explain to everyone why we
are practicing energy efficiency.

Energy Saving Tips
 Think about energy usage by room
 Look for waste
 Don't spend any money on products until
you assess your behaviours. Try simple
efficiency first of all.
 Remember, it is cheaper to save electricity
than to make it.

Comfort Zone
• In Summer:
– Aim for a temperature between
24˚C – 27˚C
– Every extra degree adds 10% to cost – do
not over-cool.
• In Winter:
– Aim for a temperature between
18˚C – 21˚C
– Every extra degree adds 10% to cost – turn
down the thermostat!
Most people are comfortable at temperatures between 18˚C – 27˚C

Home heating
Heat effectively by:
• Using the correct size heater
• Creating zones
• Using thermostats and timers
• Using ceiling fans to circulate hot air
• Wearing more clothes to reduce
heating needs
To help warm up your home:
• Design for winter solar gain
• Insulate
• Protect your windows
• Eliminate draughts

Cool effectively by:
• Closing windows and doors during
the day to shut out the heat
• Controlled cross ventilation at night
Help your home stay cool:
• Design for passive cooling
• Insulate
• Protect your windows
• Eliminate air leaks
Keeping your home cool…

Passive Heating and Cooling
• Put simply, passive heating
and cooling is letting the
winter sun in and keeping the
summer sun out
• Passive heating = providing
access for low-angle winter
sun into living areas to heat
them for free.
• Passive cooling = preventing
high angle summer sun
entering by use of shading
devices and allowing for cool
breezes to flow through the
home (cross ventilation).

Heating Actions
 To minimise your heat losses, make sure your
home is properly insulated, including your
ceiling, external walls and even floors
 Keep doors to unused rooms closed to minimise
the area you need to heat
 Set the temperature on your heater between 18-
20°C – every degree you increase the
temperature will increase consumption by 10%
 Don't heat an empty house.
 Use a reversible ceiling fan to push warm air
downwards and keep rooms warmer

Insulation
• All the materials used in the
construction of your home absorb
and transfer heat.
Note: Heat is always transferred from
the warmer side to the cooler side.
• Insulation is an essential
component in keeping your home
warm or cool and can cut heating
and cooling costs by up to 50%
• The “R” value of insulation is the
material’s ability to resist the heat
flow. The higher the R value the
greater the resistance.

Insulation Types
• Bulk insulation: resists the transfer of heat,
relying on pockets of trapped air within its
structure.
– Examples: glass fibre, wool, cellulose fibre,
polyester, polystyrene.
• Reflective insulation: resists radiant heat
flow by high reflectivity and inability to re-
radiate heat. It relies on an air layer of at
least 25mm next to the shiny surface.
– Examples: Aluminium foil laminated onto
paper or plastic available as sheets,
concertina-type batts and multi-cell batts.
Known as reflective foil laminates or 'RFL'.
• Composite insulation: combines features of
both types.
– Examples: foil backed blankets, foil backed
batts and foil faced boards.

Insulation Example
Poor Insulation Good Insulation
Source: http://www.zeropowerhouse.com/photo_page.htm

Windows solutions
• Up to 30% of heat is lost through
windows.
• Unprotected windows can cost a
household up to $200 extra in
heating and cooling each year.
• Double glazing - initial cost is high
but it provides insulation against
heat loss and can reduce noise and
fading.
• Low cost alternative – Comfort
Windows (transparent film)
• Window coverings - close-fit, heavy
curtains, installed with box pelmet

Windows solutions
How Pelmets stop the “chimney effect” on window curtains
Source: SA Government

Windows solutions
How Double Glazing Works
Source:

Cooling Actions
 Keep the area you are cooling to a minimum
 Use fans to keep yourself cool
 Turn off your cooling system while you're out
 Choose an air conditioner with
programmable timing
 Clean your air conditioner or cooler regularly
to keep it working efficiently
 Place your cooling system or air conditioner
on the shadiest side of the house

Sealing out draughts
Various Sources including http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca, Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources of Canada

LEDs (All Shapes and Sizes)
High purchase cost, cheap to run
30,000-100,000 hours of life!!
The future of Lighting
(used in more and more places)
Fluorescent (Compact and Tubular)
Medium purchase cost, cheap to run
Approx. 8,000-15,000 hours of life
Best for long use
(eg. living areas)
Halogen lamps
Medium purchase cost,
Expensive to run
Approx. 2,000 hours of life
Best for task lighting
(eg. drawing/painting)
Incandescent globes
Cheap to buy, expensive to run
(not recommended)
Approx. 1,000 hours of life
Best for short use
(eg. laundry / toilet)
Lighting Solutions

Lighting Actions
 Turn off lights in unused areas
 Change your light globes to energy
saving lights (Compact Fluorescent
Lights or LED)
 Choose lights with low wattage –
the lower the wattage the less
power it uses
 When only a small amount of light
is required, use task lighting such
as lamps or spotlights

Lighting Actions 2
 Avoid dark furnishings and interiors. They make
rooms harder to light adequately.
 Keep light fittings, shades and bulbs clean
 Use programmable timers and sensors to
control lighting in outside areas.
 Turn off garden lighting if not outside, unless
you have solar lighting. The neighbours don't
give a hoot about your garden lights!

LIGHTING
Cost comparison-8000 hrs
Source: Coherent Electronic Systems 2012
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$180
$200
Incandescent CFL
Running Cost
Purchase Cost

Standby Energy
• Standby energy (or Phantom
Load) is the energy consumed
by an appliance when it is left
connected to a power outlet but
not performing its function.
• Recent research shows that
standby energy has increased
from 4% in 1999 to about 11%
of the energy used in the
average Australian home.
• Appliances with standby power
loads usually display a tiny light
or clock when not in use or
may have soft-touch power
buttons.
• Products with the Energy Star
label will automatically switch
into a power-saving 'sleep'
mode after a certain amount of
idle time — standby power
losses are minimised

Standby Costs
Television 10W
Stereo 10W
VCR 8W
Phone charger 5-10W
Answering machine 4W
Cordless phone base 3W
Microwave 4W
Electric tooth brushes 2W
Dustbuster 1W
Scanner 10W
Fax 8W
Printer 8W
Modem 6W
Computer monitor 5W
and watch out for speakers!
Per household, appliances left on
standby can easily consume about
87watts 24 hours per day.
This equates to 2kWh per day which
means losing over $175 per year on
wasted energy!

Where is Water Used
Showers, 27%
Lawns &
Gardens, 25%
Clothes
Washing, 18%
Toilet, 16%
Other, 14%

Hot water Actions
• Install hot water system close to kitchen
/ laundry / bathroom
 Insulate all hot water pipes
 Reduce hot water storage temperature to
60°C (or 50°C for instantaneous)
 Fit a AAA rated showerhead.
 Repair hot water drips and leaks
 Use cold water instead
 Turn off water heater when not in use for
periods of time
 Disconnect the heater element in
dishwasher or stop the cycle and allow
dishes to dry naturally

Hot Water Action
 Take short showers (keep
it to under 5 minutes
instead of the average 8
minutes) instead of baths.
 Fix leaks and drips in hot
water taps straight away.
Just one drop of water per
second wastes 1,200 litres
per month

Main types of water heaters
Gas
Electric
Solar
Heat Pump

WATER HEATING:
Reducing heat loss
Storage tank
blanket
• Lag all inlet and outlet pipes,
especially on outdoor storage tanks
• Wrap electric storage heaters with an
insulating blanket >>>

Cooking Actions
 Use a microwave for cooking, they're more energy
efficient than conventional ovens
 Stir or turn food in the microwave often to ensure the
heat spreads evenly - speeding up the heating process
 Make sure the seals in your oven fit properly. The seals
should hold a piece of paper in place when the oven door
is closed
 Use small appliances for small tasks e.g. use the toaster
not the oven for toasting.

Cooking Actions 2
 Keep lids on pots when cooking
 Use the correct size pot for the element or
burner
 Avoid cooking food that is still frozen
 Avoid opening oven doors when cooking -
each time you do the internal temperature
drops by 15°C
 Use appropriate cooking temperatures
 Cook several dishes at once

Dishwasher Actions
 Instead of using the drying cycle, stop the
dishwasher, open the door and let dishes dry
naturally
 Only run the dishwasher when it's full
 Use the economy cycle for everyday washing
 Make the most of all functions on your
dishwasher. Small load or half load options, short
wash cycles, rinse-only cycles and mid-cycle turn
off are features designed for energy efficiency as
well as convenience

Refrigeration Actions
• An average Australian household
has a fridge that produces approx
1.1 tonnes of CO2 and costs about
$220 per year to run.
Fridge efficiency:
• Position: Cool, shaded, away from
heat sources such as windows and
stoves.
• Ventilation: Ensure space around
back and sides (8cm min).
• Temperature: Ideally 4°C.
5% more energy is used for each 1°C
colder
• Operation: Empty and switch off if
away for an extended period

Washing & Drying Clothes
 Dry lighter items together and heavier items
together
 Thinking of buying a new washing machine?
Consider this: front loading automatic
washing machines use considerably less
energy and water than top loading machines
 Always ensure clothing is wrung well before
placing in the dryer. Clothes should never be
placed in the dryer while dripping with water.

Washing & Drying Clothes
Actions
 Use a clothesline instead of a dryer wherever
possible
 Only run the clothes washer or dryer when fully
loaded
 Use cold water to wash clothes
 Keep the lint filter in your dryer clean
 Spin clothes thoroughly before drying
 Don't over-dry clothes. Only use the minimum
amount of time needed to dry your clothes

Efficiency Labels & Star Ratings
• Energy and Water Labels provide information
about the energy and water use of products
• Allow comparison between different products
• The new labels have a consistent format
• Is NOT an endorsement or seal of approval

Products – Easy / low cost
• Door Weather-stripping devices $16-$25
• Windows and door seals (per frame) $5-$15
• Tap Aerator $8-$15
• AAA Rated Shower-rose $26-90
• Selector Flush for Toilet $12-$20
• 5-20W CFL $5 - $15

Products – Medium cost
• Insulating Exposed Hot Water Pipes $100
• Fridge seals $50
• Comfort Windows (heavy duty film) $170+
• Pelmets $100+
• External Awnings $150+
• LED replacement $30-$70
• Double glazing (DIY) Renew 84 $30/frame

Products – Long term
• Double Glazing (per frame) $200+
• Insulation $600+

In a Nutshell
• What are the key points?
– Behaviour vs Retrofit
– Draught Proofing
– Insulation
– Passive Heating and Cooling
• Protect you windows
• Control the ventilation
• Allow in winter sun
• Keep out summer sun
– Switch off items when not in use
and watch out for standby loads
– Reduce (hot) water use
• Shorter Showers
• Cold clothes wash
– Buy energy efficient appliances
and lights
– Think of other ways to do the same job
(eg clothes line vs dryer)
– Other ideas

How to proceed
 Make small changes at first and continue to
monitor to see the effect on consumption.
 Share the daily results at the evening meal,
check to see if you are going to meet your
target.
 Praise, reward, and have fun as you go along.

Reaching Targets
 Don't get disheartened if you don't reach
your goal in the first few weeks. It takes
time to embed behaviours throughout the
home.

The Reward
 Your reward will be much lower energy bills.
Treat your self at every milestone you reach
with some of the proceeds from your energy bill
savings!
 Every kilowatt or MegaJoule you save equals 24
less black balloons released into the
atmosphere.
 Savings of 70% are achievable if you are
determined enough.

My Reward
Quarterly Electricty Comparison
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Qtr
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ill

Save Money on Your Power Bill

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