Save money on your energy bill
Paying for energy is a big part of a households annual budget. Prices are rising and are likely to continue to do so. But it isn't always price rises that are the cause of a high power bill. On this page we give you some information about knowing where you use energy in your house some things you can do to make savings.
Things you can do to save money
Did you know?
- A typical household of four people spends around $2,800 a year on energy, not including transport [1]
- Electricity makes up more than 85% of the energy bill in an average house. Most of the remainder of the bill is gas [2]
- The price of electricity increased 7.5% in the year between 2007 and 2008, and 41% in the five years between 2003 and 2008. [2]
Things you can do to save money
Here are some cheap and quick things you can do. Most of these are free.
| Action | Cost to do | Estimated savings each year |
| Switch off your second or beer fridge | Free | $100 to $300 |
| Dry your clothes outside rather than using a dryer | Free | Around $200 |
| Only use your heated towel rails when needed | Free | $85 -$170 |
| Switch your appliances off at the wall when not in use | Free | |
| Wash your clothes in cold rather than warm water | Free | $50 - $75 |
| Switch the four most commonly used lights in your house to CFL's | $24 | $85 |
| Wrap your electric hot water tank and the first few metres of hot water pipe |
$80 - $100 | Up to $150 for an older cylinder |
| Draught proof your house | ||
| Shut your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in | Free |
Others actions require some investment and a bit more time to sort out, but the savings and other benefits, such as a more comfortable and healthier home, can be a lot larger. The amount of savings from these actions really varies depending on your particular house, the number of people in your home and the type of systems you run.
More information
- Energy-saving tips for your home
- Appliances
- Building and renovating
- Your house
- Travelling and vehicles
- ENERGYWISE™ funding.
Notes:
[1] Statistics New Zealand, Household Economic Survey: Year ended 30 June 2007, 2007 (online).
[2] Ministry of Economic Development, 2008, Schedule of Domestic Electricity Prices: Updated to 15 November 2008, 2008 (online).
