When is off still on?

Many household and office appliances and equipment consume energy even when turned off. These energy costs can be up to $140 for a typical household each year, adding as much as 15 per cent to electricity bills. Australia wide, that translates to the output from four power stations and 1.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Most homes are littered with such devices. Appliances with transformers, especially those with transformer boxes which plug between the power point and the device. Only shut off completely when switched off at the power point. Answering machines battery chargers, cordless phones, clock radios and radio cassettes plugged in all the time add to electricity bills.

Appliances with remote or electronic controls also do not totally shut down when on stand by. They use a few watts of electricity each hour. Remote controlled televisions, VCRs, stereo systems and automatic garage doors can cost as much as $35 annually while on stand-by, and that does not take into account the batteries used in the remote controls. Switching them off at the power point when they are not used will reduce energy bills.

Then there are clocks, electronic displays and other devices,. Microwave displays, clock radios, electronic door bells, security systems and even sensors for security lights are all consuming energy. In the US, one study revealed the electricity used by the stand-by feature in all that country’s TV sets required the output of a Chernobyl-sized nuclear power plant. The solution: switch off appliances at the power point when they are not in use.

Warmer for Less

For many Australians heating makes up a large part of their yearly energy bill. Poor house design, inadequate insulation and lack of proper window coverings and draught-proofing mean many consumers pay high energy bills to be comfortable in winter.

Energy Saving Heating Tips:

• Close doors and limit heating to the areas you are using.
• Heat living areas to less than 21C (in the average home, every one degree increase in thermostat setting increases heating bills by around 15 per cent)
• Heat bedroom areas to less than 18C
• Turn off heating overnight and when you are out during the day.
• If you have gas heaters, turn off pilot lights during the warmer months
• If only one room needs heating, consider using a space or portable heater instead of central heating.
• Choose heaters that have thermostat controls and timers.
• Choose heaters that have high ‘star’ energy ratings.
• Keep heaters clean and regularly serviced.
• Close windows, doors, curtains and drapes when you are heating.
• Open curtains and drapes on sunny winter days to let the sunlight in.
• Insulate your home and use draft excluders on doors and windows.

The Australian Magazine