Cultivate Energy-Saving Habits
Energy saving habits are easy to learn. Daily behaviours can save resources and money and can reduce your contribution to global warming.
The cost of energy is rising and the threats posed by climate change are increasing. Yet, with just a bit of effort, the average household can reduce its energy use by about a third – and save money on energy bills at the same time! The energy efficiency of the technology available to us is improving, and when combined with our common sense, can create large reductions in energy use.
How to do it now!
Adjust your daily habits to save tonnes of CO2 (and dollars) going into the atmosphere every day…
Some habits to get you started…
- Switch off all lights when you don't need them.
- Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use - Standby power accounts for about 12% of the average home’s energy use, so turn it off at the power point to save energy and money!
- Turn down your thermostat & put on a jumper - Turning it down by just 1°C can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.
- Use pot lids when cooking - Keep lids on pans when cooking and reduce the energy required.
- Cold drink of water - Keep drinking water in the fridge instead of letting the tap water run for a few moments before the water becomes cold.
- Drying your clothes - Let clothes dry naturally on the clothesline rather than using a tumble drier.
- Avoid disposable batteries - Use mains electricity rather than batteries if possible. If not, use rechargeable batteries.
To learn a new habit requires a couple of simple steps...
- Decide as a household the habits you’re going to establish and ensure everyone is onboard.
- Set up reminders (eg: notes on the fridge, light switches, etc). Empower the kids to dob you in (they'll love that).
- Do the habit consciously for a week, then two, then it should be established and your subconscious will keep it going.
- At the end of each energy billing period note the saving and reward yourselves.
For some further reading on energy saving tips visit these websites:
- Country Water
- Energy Star Australia
- Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- Brotherhood of St Laurence
At the NABERS ratings for homes website you can find how energy & water efficient your home is compared to others, explore simple ways to reduce your energy and water bills and protect the environment.
Why this action is important?
Science is telling us that we need to live more sustainably – more in tune with nature. In order for humans to establish a sustainable civilisation we must mimic and aspire to the efficiencies found in nature. This action is intended to engage people to understand the effect of their behaviour in terms of their long term returns (financial, environmental and intergenerational). Through our actions, we will better understand that living sustainably does not mean living in a cold, dark place, but merely making a few simple changes to our daily lives.