Your Territory Green Guide Part 1
Do you want to save money as well as electricity, water and the environment? Power and Water NT have recently released Your Territory Green Guide. The Guide provides you with simple yet effective tools and tricks to help your family reduce household costs. Let us take you through the key takeaways.
Home appliances can account for a whopping 30% of your home energy use, so it is important to choose energy efficient appliances. The more stars the appliance has, the more energy efficient it is.
Tip: Use lids on pots while cooking, fill the kettle and pots with only as much water as you need
Your kitchen is often where the majority of your electricity bill comes from. To save costs, help your fridge work more efficiently by keeping it clean, both inside and out. Fridge motors should only run for around 30% of the day, therefore you need to regularly check that the fridge’s on-and-off cycle is working.
Tip: Get rid of that old second fridge and see the difference to your power bill
Dishwashers can be a huge contributor to household costs. Instead of always using it to wash your dishes, put a plug in your sink and wash your dishes manually. If you are strapped for time, use your dishwasher’s economy cycle.
Tip: Use a cold water connection for the dishwasher. The machine will heat the water for the wash cycle and use cold water to rinse Turn the dishwasher off before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes air-dry.
Your microwave is an energy-efficient option when reheating and cooking food. You will save about two-thirds the energy you would use with an electric oven.
Tip: Turn your microwave off at the socket, digital displays use a lot of energy.
Ensure you take practical steps to ensure your home is as cool as possible. For example, draw curtains across the windows wherever possible, close doors to rooms not being used and insulate your ceiling.
Fans are also a good alternative to cooling instead of using your air con. They are relatively cheap to run and produce less greenhouse gas.
During Darwin’s wet season, you will often feel the need to use your air con. If so, ensure you keep the filters clean and run them on timers.
Tip: building or renovating a home? For more information on energy efficient house designs in a tropical climate and hot-arid climate visit: dlp.nt.gov.au/ sustainability/ tips-and-resources/ home-building
Stay tuned for Part Two of this blog in May.
You can find more information about Power and Water’s Your Territory Guide here
Find out: Where does all the energy go?
