Save Money on Power in Autumn
Autumn is on the way! Aotearoa is soon to be a swath of gold and russet red. The wind cools, and the mornings arise with fresh dew and a fresh energy.
The unfortunate part of autumn, and upcoming winter, is that the colder weather can increase our power bills. We tend to need more energy to warm our homes, and it can make an eye-watering difference to our power bill.
But the good news is that there are a few things you can do to minimise your power consumption, and therefore, help keep those high winter bills at bay!
We have gathered our top 6 tips to help you save money on power in autumn.
1. Consider Upgrading Appliances
Do you have old, withered appliances at home such as a washing machine, fridge, chest freezer, or electric heater? Well, those old appliances can gobble up a lot of electricity. You can save a lot of money in the long term by investing in new, modern appliances that have a high energy star rating. This means that they will use less energy to perform the same task, helping to minimise your electricity consumption, and thus, reduce your energy bills.
2. Give Appliances some Love
It’s important to make sure your appliances can work as efficiently as possible. Clean the filter in your heat pump so that the unit doesn’t have to work as hard to warm up your room. Consider decluttering your fridge and freezer so that they can keep your food cool and frozen without having to work as hard, and consume as much energy.
3. Choose Cold Water
Did you know that it requires a lot of energy to heat up water? Where possible, choose to use cold water. For example, you can wash your clothes on the cold water cycle. Most modern detergents can clean your clothes and laundry very effectively. Consider saving the hot water cycles for when you really need them, such as after a cold or flu has run through your home.
4. Seal Windows and Doors
It’s important to make sure you can trap the warm air generated by your aircon, or by the sun during the day. You also don’t want to have that cold air from outside sneak in! Make sure all your windows and doors seal properly when closed. You can also add draught blockers to the insides of your windows and doors to help trap in that warm air.
5. Swap Light Bulbs
Did you know that LED light bulbs are far more energy efficient than your traditional light bulbs? They require a lot less electricity to shine, therefore, they are an easy and affordable eco-friendly swap that will help save you money on your power bill.
6. Turn Appliances Off at Wall
Did you know that vampire power can consume a small, but significant amount of electricity every month? Vampire power, also known as standby mode, is when your appliances use a small amount of electricity to be ready to use whenever you are. For example, your TV uses a bit of electricity even when turned off to power the remote control sensor. A big one would also be your phone charger. Turn that one off at the wall to save power when you aren’t using it.
Bonus Money Saving Tip: Compare Power Bill
One of the best ways to save money on power this autumn, and winter, is to jump on Power Compare and compare different power plans and providers available to you. When you have all the information available to you, you are more likely to make a better decision, and avoid spending more money than you need to.
Power Compare is free to use, and is designed to be bias-free, so you can make the right decision for you and your household. Find yourself the cheapest power company for your unique needs now before power prices rise in 2025, so you can lock in a deal, and avoid paying too much this autumn and winter! It is easy to do so. Simply:
- Jump on our website.
- Type in your address.
- Compare power plans available to you side-by-side.
- Find one you like and click SWITCH.