You don’t have to be at home to find ways to save energy. Every time you go away for a well-deserved break, you can also increase your energy efficiency at home. It’s good for the environment and your holiday budget – think of that extra spending money!
Make the most of every opportunity to help save energy with these quick and easy tips.
Most electrical appliances use standby power, which is super convenient when we’re at home, but not so important if we’re away.
Unplugging all unused devices is a great way to conserve energy, and with the extra dollars you save, you could enjoy additional holiday treats.
Appliances like the television, kettle and microwave are generally on and always ready for use. But that also means they’re easy to forget and leave plugged in.
So before you head to the airport, make a holiday checklist of all the appliances to switch off. Then go through each room in the house and unplug all unnecessary appliances. While you’re at it, check that the windows and doors are locked to help improve your home security. It’s best to leave the fridge running, but you might want to rethink emptying it before you head off – a well-stocked fridge can help maintain its temperature and save energy. Keep your modem on too – you’ll need that for the next energy-saving tip.
You can use AGL Energy Insights to test your energy efficiency or to spot any energy vampires in your home when you’re not there. Just before you head out the door, sign up for a mid-bill AGL Energy Insights Report through My Account. When you get back, you can run another report and compare the difference.
You can use AGL Energy Insights to test your energy efficiency or to spot any energy vampires in your home when you’re not there. Just before you head out the door, sign up for a mid-bill AGL Energy Insights Report through My Account. When you get back, you can run another report and compare the difference.
It’s common to worry about whether you locked the back door when on holiday. But resist leaving your lights on to make it look like you’re at home. That’ll just inflate your energy bill. The best way to stop worrying while also saving energy is to get a timer for your lights. Put a light switch timer on each lamp in your house and set them to turn on and off at different times – from the outside, it will look like someone is home while you’re stretched out on the beach or trekking up a mountain.
Smart light bulbs take this old trick to the next level. They look like ordinary energy-efficient light bulbs, but they connect to your wi-fi.
Using an app on your phone, you can set the lights to switch on and off automatically.
You can even adjust the brightness and colour if you want to get fancy.
There’s also the option of a light bulb with a built-in security camera, so you can check if you really did leave the toiletries bag on the bed when you left the house.
You’ve got your electricity saving strategies sorted – but don’t forget about the gas. A lot of gas appliances have pilot lights, which is the gas equivalent of standby mode on electrical devices. It’s a good idea to also add them to your holiday checklist for energy efficiency and general safety.
Check your oven, heaters and hot water system for pilot lights and switch them off before you leave.
Put a reminder in your phone to re-ignite the pilot light on your hot water system as soon as you return home. Nobody likes a cold shower!
Here are more ways to get a clearer picture of your energy usage and how to lower it.
The energy-saving tips provided in this article are general in nature and intended for informational purposes only. Actual energy savings may vary depending on individual household usage and appliance efficiency.
With Energy Insights, you can see what is using up the most electricity in your home.
