energy use

How Much Is Your Energy Use Really Costing You?

If you’re a loyal user of eco friendly products, it’s likely you want to do the best by the environment. However, how many of you clean and green Australians do everything you can to save power and reduce your energy use around the home?

Reducing energy consumption means less impact on our environment, and could also help you to save money. Though you might know the big things to avoid, such as half-hour long showers, you could have some little habits that are adding to your power usage without you even realising.

According to an infographic by Switch the Future Australia, plenty of things could be costing you a lot more than you think. Using the dryer over the washing line could cost you up to $95 per annum, while using air conditioning instead of fans (or just opening a window!) could cost you $200 extra dollars in the summer.

Then there’s the television and electronic appliances – how many of you put your devices on standby instead of shutting them down and switching the power off? This could cost you as much as $150 per annum when you leave your TV on standby.

So now you know that what seems like harmless energy use could cost you when it comes to your wallet, what cost does it have for the environment?

According to the Ministry for the Environment of New Zealand, all energy sources have an effect on the environment, with some using up non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Because of this, it’s important to use as little energy as possible.

There are plenty of ways to reduce your energy usage. Ensure you turn off all appliances at the wall when you’ve finished using them, and use natural energy when you can – for example, a hand-held fan instead of one that uses power.

You can also use energy efficient lightbulbs and dry your clothes on the washing line or in the sun to reduce your power use.

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