Everyday appliances such as fridges, TV’s, stereo etc consume around 20% of the electricity consumption of the average home, so its important that chose and use these appliances wisely.

Buying new appliances

Most major appliances such as refrigerators and freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, some air conditioners are sold with energy labels attached. This is part of the Australian Governments Energy Rating system, which requires manufactures to have their products tested for energy consumption. The Star Rating sticker on the appliance shows its comparative energy consumption – the more energy stars, the better its energy efficiency.

So, when you are next shopping for one of these appliances, look for the Star Rating stick and aim for the highest star rating. Not only will you be saving energy, but over the life of the appliances, you could save hundreds of dollars. The Star Rating label also displays the estimated electricity consumption of the appliance, over a year. To find out the cost of running that applicance – simply multiply this figure by the cost of electricity (you’ll find this on your electricity bill).

Remember, the star ratings are meant to assist householders to compare similar sized appliances, in each category. For more information on the Star Rating system, or to search for the most efficient appliances, click here or ask one of our staff at the Smart Living Centre.

Using appliances wisely

Buying the most efficient appliances is the first step to reducing energy use – its also important to use them wisely to maximise the savings. Follow these simple tips and you could save hundreds of dollars off your electricity bill each year:

• Cut out the stand by power - many appliances like TV’s, stereo’s, playstations, use a small amount of energy whilst on ‘standby-by’. Switch them off at the wall when not in use. To make this easier to do, put them on a powerboard so you need only one switch. Depending on the applicances, you could save up to $50/year
• Trim the pool pump running time – pool pumps consume large amounts of energy and many are run longer than they need to be to maintain a healthy pool. By reducing the running time by just 1 hour / day, you’ll save around $50/year. Fit a timer switch if you don’t already have one.
• Always use the sun to dry your clothes – the Alice Springs climate is ideal for fast clothes drying, even inside (ie away from the dust!). Using a clothes dryer just once / week can cost around $100/year.
• Only use your appliances (such as dishwashers and washing machines when they are full). Use the microwave for cooking, instead of the oven or stove top where possible – microwaves are an energy efficient way to cook.
• Switch off that second fridge when not needed – many Alice Springs households use a second fridge, which are often old and inefficient - for a single door fridge/freezer, you could save up to up to $200 each year.

  For more tips, see our Tips of the Week.