Lower Carbon Footprint and Power Bill
Do you have a higher than average power use? You can check our recent article, which details some of the average power bills in New Zealand in 2025. This could help you figure out whether you might need to put some steps in place to lower that bill. In 2025, we should all be considering how we can save on power. By doing so, we can be kinder to our environment and save money.
As climate change continues to be a concern, you can make a few small changes to lower your carbon footprint and save money on your power bill.
Where does NZ get Energy From?
Here in Aotearoa, we get our electricity from a combination of renewable and non-renewableenergy sources. Renewable sources are materials that are constantly replenished such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. Non-renewable sources include fossil fuels. Fossil fuels come from the decomposition of plant and animal matter over millions of years, resulting in coal, oil, and gas. When these materials are burned, they generate electricity. However, they also produce greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the environment.
Our homes generally get electricity from a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy. You can reduce your carbon footprint by lowering your energy consumption.
We have rounded up our top 5 ways to lower your carbon footprint, and save money!
1. Energy Efficient Appliances
It is worth investing in energy efficient appliances. Modern appliances with high energy star ratings use less energy to do their jobs, meaning they can help combat your overall energy consumption. This can be a great way to save money long term on your power bill and help make a difference to your carbon footprint. So, if you have an old fridge, chest freezer, or washing machine, it is worth considering an upgrade!
2. Cold Water
Hot water can use a lot of energy! Consider switching to using cold water where possible. For example, not every load of washing needs to be on a warm or hot cycle. Give a cold wash a try. Modern detergents are great at cleaning your clothes on their own, and you will save a ton of money on electricity by sticking with cold washes most of the time. It will also help protect the integrity and longevity of your clothes! You can save the warm or hot washes for free power days, if you are lucky enough to have them with your power plan, or wash your sheets and bedding on warm after you have been sick.
3. Unplug Devices
Did you know that vampire power can gobble a small, but significant amount of power every month? That’s right! When you leave devices and appliances plugged in after you have used them, they will use a small amount of electricity so that they can be ready for you. This is known as standby power, or vampire power. It is sneaky, silent, and can make an impact on your power consumption. Save some money by turning off devices and appliances at the wall when you are not using them, such as your phone charger!
4. Close Windows and Doors
Check that all the windows and doors in your home seal properly! In the winter, you’ll want to trap the warm air from your heater and any heat generated from the sun. And in summer, if you use the air con, you’ll want to trap that precious cool air so you can sleep better at night. Consider installing some floor-to-ceiling curtains so that they can also help keep the warmth in during the winter so your heater doesn’t have to work as hard!
5. Clean Appliances
It;s always a good idea to routinely clean your appliances, particularly your fridge freezer or your air conditioner. Declutter your fridge every now and then to make sure it can circulate the cold air efficiently so that it doesn’t have to overwork to keep your food cool, or frozen. Same goes for your air conditioner. Make sure you clean the filter so that the unit can pump the cool or warm air efficiently without having to work harder than it needs to. Remember, the harder an appliance has to work, the more energy it’ll use. Clean appliances to make sure they work well and save money!
Bonus: Consider Solar
Solar energy is a clean, green source of energy. It works with solar panels, which convert the sun’s light into electricity. Consider investing in solar panels if you can. They can be a costly endeavour to get installed. But they offer incredible long term benefits on the environment and your wallet. They can generate a lot of electricity — sometimes even enough to cover your entire power bill for the month! Plus, if there is any excess energy, your power company can buy this power off you, and pay you at a particular buy-back rate. This can be a wonderful way to reduce your carbon footprint long term, and save you money on your electricity bill.
Money Saving Tip: Compare!
Another effective way to save money on your power bill is to compare! With costs rising in the industry this year, it has never been more important to compare your electricity bill. Luckily, Power Compare makes it easy and quick to compare, with our user-friendly comparison platform that empowers you to compare different power plans and providers available to you.
Power Compare is designed to help you make a fully informed choice, so you can find a deal that delivers more value for your money, and so you can avoid spending more than necessary.
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