Hints For Energy Saving continued...

Other Fuels And Appliances
Space heating - The cost to heat the average living room is $80 per quarter using natural gas space heaters, off-peak electric storage heaters and high efficiency (4 - 6 star rated) reverse cycle air conditioners.Costs can be much higher using low efficiency air conditioners, LPG space heaters, slow combustion wood heaters, heating oil, portable kerosene, portable and fixed electric heaters, pot belly wood heaters and open fires cost much more to operate.

Central heating - Using a space heater (such as in-slab electric or hydronic, if kept at about 18ºC) to heat a typical living room costs approximately $200 per quarter. If central heating is used to heat an entire house, costs would increase. Costs can be much higher using natural gas ducted heating, electric radiant ceiling heating, ducted reverse cycle air conditioning. Remember, central heating costs vary widely on the temperature set, the area heated, the length of time a system is on for, and the efficiency of the model.

Other factors - Although running costs of heaters are important, other factors can affect the overall cost of heating. Sleeping or formal areas often do not need to be heated to the same temperature, or at the same time, as informal areas. If you are considering purchasing a central heating system, look for one that can be 'zoned' to heat different areas of your home at different times.

Cooking - The average cost for cooking, using natural gas, is $30 per quarter whilst conventional electric of LPG gas cooking costs over double this amount. Using an electric frypan or microwave is more economical than using an electric or gas oven.

Hot water - The average hot water cost is $120 per quarter using high efficiency natural gas storage or electric off-peak systems. High efficiency natural gas continuous flow or instantaneous hot water is about 15% cheaper to run. LPG hot water or peak tariff electric hot water systems (instantaneous and continual reheat) are about 2.5 times the cost of off-peak electric hot water. A solar hot water system will reduce the annual costs on average by 50% saving an average family up to $300 a year.

Cooling - The cost to cool a typical living room with a fan is about $6 per quarter. Refrigerated air conditioning will cost about $72 per quarter whilst an evaporative cooler will cost about $24 - $30. A ducted evaporative system to cool the whole house will cost up to $72 per quarter and a ducted refrigerated system will cost around $200.
Other appliances - that hit the hip pocket can have a surprisingly large effect on energy bills.

These include:

• Swimming pool filter pump - Up to $110
• Swimming pool heater (natural gas-fuelled) - up to $650<
• Sauna - up to $110
• Spa - $330
• 100 watt security light, left on16 hours per day - $28

Buying A New Appliance...You can save energy, money and our environment.
Look for an energy rating label - when you buy an energy efficient model which could save you hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the appliance. Every energy rating label has from 1 - 6 stars marked on it. The more stars you see, the more efficient the appliance and the less energy it uses. This equates to significant savings on running costs every year. These can be found on all: Refrigerators, Freezers, Dishwashers, Air Conditioners, Gas space heaters, Gas ducted heating furnaces, Gas hot water services, Clothes dryers, Washing machines. For more information visit http://www.energyrating.gov.au/

Click below for hints on how to save energy and money in the:

Living Room

Kitchen

Laundry & Bathroom

Bedrooms

Garage & Workshop