Here are some helpful tips to help you manage your power usage so you can be as energy-efficient as possible and don’t end up with a hefty bill each month.

  1. Dry your laundry outside. Clothes dried indoors evaporate between 2-5 litres of moisture per load which can cause damp and mould.
  2. Turn off lights and any unused appliances at the wall.
  3. Replace your incandescents with LED lights. Each regular light bulb you replace with an LED can save you up to $20 a year per bulb. It quickly adds up!
  4. Cut hot water costs by keeping showers down to 5 minutes. You can also fit a shower flow restrictor or install a high-efficiency shower head.
  5. Get rid of that unflued gas heater. These heaters can be bad for your health as they can cause buildup of toxic gases and moisture if used inside. A portable electric heater costs less to run for the same heat output and won’t make your house damp.
  6. Stop draughts with draught stopper or a door snake on the bottoms of outside doors. Install draught-tape around gappy windows and doors. You can also try tightening hinges, catches and latches to stop cold air leaking in.
  7. Prevent mould and let fresh air in by ventilating your home effectively. Open windows or doors on either side of the house to cross ventilate for 30 mins daily – this can be split into 2 x 15 minutes, morning and evening or even 3 x 10 minutes. If you do find mould on walls, ceiling or windows, treat it as soon as you can. Spray with white vinegar then wipe.
  8. If you can afford it, install energy efficient heating, such as a heat pump. And use them effectively! Heat pumps give you over at least 3kW of heat for every 1kW of power you buy from Toast. Don’t leave them running while you’re out, set the temperature between 18 and 20 degrees, and clean filters regularly.