7 Ways to Reduce Your Power Bill This Winter!

Winter can be the most expensive season when it comes to power bills and we know Kiwis are starting to feel that Bill Shock Pinch with the cold setting in. What would be $350.00 per month could double or triple for some when the cold hits!

Take a look at 7 ways you can reduce your power bill now, because 5 ways is not enough anymore! Where possible, households want to save money, especially in winter because we start using heating devices and other home appliances more and more. Staying home can save money but it can cost more money when it comes to your power consumption. Here’s how to keep it down!

1 - Lower the Thermostat Setting

A usual scenario in many homes during winter is setting the thermostat at a high temperature to fight the cold. While this may be reasonable under some circumstances, it may also mean higher power consumption.

Living rooms should be set at 21°C, other occupied rooms at 18°C. Never exceed 24°C, in the end you’ll get too hot and it wastes energy and your pennies.

2 - Use Ceiling Fans to Circulate Heat

One efficient way to minimize the use of a thermostat and yet achieve a warm temperature inside the home is by turning on the ceiling fans! If you still live in a home that has these bad boys, use this trick! This can circulate the heat around the rooms and corners, which is necessary for extremely cold weather.

During the day, when the sun is high, you can turn off the thermostat and open the window for the heat to enter.

With ceiling fans on, the heat can penetrate the spaces inside the home, and there is no need for other devices to keep the heat in.

3 - Go for Energy-Efficient Appliances

You should avoid leaving electrical appliances and devices like TVs, DVD players, mobile phone chargers all on standby. These devices consume energy when switched on even when they are not being used. They don't get called 'Energy Vampires' for nothing!

According to research done by Pulse Energy, it is estimated that about 7 percent of the average Kiwi household power bill is wasted on standby power. As a nation, that’s about $100 million per year squandered on appliances that aren’t actually doing anything.

Bit much right? So, turn that appliance off on the wall or change your stand by settings.

4 - Choose LED Lighting

LED lights are proven to be more energy-efficient than standard incandescent lights.

You can use as much lighting as you want without paying for a higher power bill later on. You can opt for LED lights, which can guarantee lower power consumption.

LED lights can consume only 20% to 25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. It may cost more to get in the first place but will save you more in the long run.

5 - Stay Warm with hoodies, Socks, and Blankets

Layer up Kiwis! Wearing hoodies and socks and using blankets during the night or day can keep the body warm, makes sense right? Perhaps this is the most practical way of saving electricity during the winter. The old school way and hey it’s worked.

Layering clothing can help the body maintain its temperature without using power or electricity. The head, hands, and feet lose the most heat, so you must cover these areas well.

Drinking warm beverages and using blankets can also help maintain body temperature at a healthy level. Go on, have a hot cuppa and snuggle up in your thermals.

6 - Close windows and doors of Unused Rooms

Keep the heat in, keep the cold out. Close your windows, doors and curtains just before the sun goes down. The logic behind this is simple:  limiting heating to used spaces reduces overall energy use.

7 - Use Thermal or Insulated Curtains That Trap Heat

Insulated curtains usually have four layers:

●     A core layer of high-density foam insulates windows from heat and sound.

●     A vapor barrier keeps the foam from absorbing moisture.

●     A third layer reflects heat back into the room.

●     A fourth layer is a decorative fabric.

During the day, when the sun is up, you can simply allow the heat from outside to enter the home and then trap it inside. In this situation, insulated curtains are most helpful.

You can keep the curtains and blinds closed at night to add more insulation to the windows and prevent heat loss. Insulated curtains are proven to trap most heat and are an excellent investment that can help lower power consumption.

Need help to compare what's out there?

That’s ok, sometimes we have enough on our plates. Give our friendly NZ based Customer Support Centre on 0508 226672. They’re here to support you in making a fully informed choice about what provider and plan is right for your needs. Hassle free, obligation free and just FREE full stop. Let us help you tick a job off the list.

Switching providers can save you money and time on your power bill, it's always worth a look when money is involved.

Reduce your bill using our top 7 tips and see if you can reduce it even more by switching plans or providers. We can help with that!