The dummies' guide to power hungry appliances

Waiting in suspense for your electricity bill to arrive after a particularly gruelling summer is a sentiment shared by much of the population. Power hungry appliances can contribute up to 30 per cent of your electricity usage.

What can you do instead of cringing at how many days the air conditioner was running and which appliances will be the culprits? Read on!

The good news is that you can save! In fact, there are a few things you can do to identify which of your appliances are the most power-hungry and reduce their overall impact on your electricity bill.

Your most power hungry Appliances

The first step is to identify appliances that tend to use the most electricity in your household. According to CanStar Blue, these are typically the most energy-draining appliances around the home:

• Televisions
• Home entertainment – phones, tablets, game consoles
• Computer monitors
• Fridges and freezers
• Washing machines
• Clothes dryers
• Dishwashers
• Air conditioners

Of course, every household will be different depending on individual appliance usage, age and brand of appliances. Being aware of the impact the appliances above can have on your bill is a great place to start saving.

The next step is to monitor your appliances’ usage.

• Find their energy ratings
• Estimate how many hours your appliances are left switched on or are in use
• Find out how much your electricity company charges per kWh of electricity
• Calculate approximate costs of running these energy-drainers in your home

This will help to identify any appliances that might be significantly affecting your energy-saving efforts. Once you’re equipped with this information, you can make an informed decision about upgrading to a more energy efficient option, if necessary.

Simple tips to reduce the energy your appliances use

• During summer close your blinds during the day to keep the heat out

• Use a cold cycle for your washing machine

• Dry your clothes using your outdoor clothesline rather than the dryer

• Use Reposit First to work out the best times to use your energy draining appliances

• Use a short or ECO cycle for your dishwasher

• Set your thermostat to 24 degrees in summer. Each extra degree you subtract in summer increases energy use by 10 per cent

• If you have solar, use Reposit First to identify when your panels are producing more energy than your household is consuming and set timers for your most energy draining appliances to turn on

Do you want cheaper bills in the palm of your hand?

These tips are just the beginning. By installing Reposit you can monitor your overall energy usage well into the future. The system acts as the brain, making it easy for you to track and monitor your family’s ongoing energy usage. Giving you better control over your energy savings - and cheaper electricity bills.

Get more information about Reposit and how it can help you lower your electricity bills, or get in touch with our awesome consultants.