COOL IT ON BIG BILLS
It’s time to look at ways to lower your electricity costs, writes Sophie Elsworth
COST-CONSCIOUS Australians will turn off their airconditioners and cooling systems this summer to save money on energy bills.
As temperatures rise, a new report from energy provider Powershop found 56 per cent of Australians said they would consider using airconditioning less or not at all during summer.
Powershop interim chief executive officer Catherine Anderson said the results proved Australians “were getting more engaged with their energy bills than they have previously”.
“We want people to be careful over summer and if you need to stay cool, you need to do that,” she said.
“Almost 60 per cent of people are already using tricks to keep their power bills low.
“This includes keeping the house dark and the blinds down during the day, turning appliances off at the wall and staying cool by doing things like going to shopping centres.”
Separate research from energy giant Origin found an old airconditioner could cost up to $470 more a year to run compared with investing in a newer model. And cooling only a section of the home instead of the entire house could save between $400 and $1500 annually.
Origin’s general manager of customer care, Jan Prichard, said one of the biggest mistakes Australians made was setting their airconditioner on too low a temperature on a sweltering day.
“The recommended temperature for comfort is 24C, with every degree below that adding between 5 to 10 per cent to your energy use,” she said. “Customers should always consider the energy efficiency rating when purchasing a new airconditioner.”
Ms Prichard warned while portable airconditioners could be cheaper to buy, they could cost anywhere between $152 and $550 per year more to run than a quality split system or ducted unit.
“Reverse-cycle airconditioners are up to four times more energy efficient than portable units and have the added benefit of keeping you warm over winter,” she said.
Using ceiling fans instead of airconditioning on days when temperatures are between 28C and 30C could save between $38 and
$153 annually. Receiving power bills monthly instead of quarterly can help households get a better handle on costs.
The Powershop research found 80 per cent of people were worried about their bills this summer and 23 per cent were considering switching energy retailers.