Loading ...
Rising costs of living are putting pressure on Australian households, and with living costs increasing between 1.2-1.4% in the June quarter of 2024, many are looking to cut back where possible. Fortunately at home, there are many tips for households to reduce utility costs without compromising comfort, helping to make houses more energy efficient whilst reducing unnecessary expenditure.
We’ll be exploring energy and water-saving tips to reduce utility costs in your household and make a positive impact on the environment at the same time.
There are many things you can try to reduce your energy bill. First and foremost, monitoring what electronics are being used and turning them off when not in use, can make a big difference. Devices like TVs, computers, and chargers can draw standby power, which can add up over a year, so when you're not using them, turn them off to conserve energy. If you don’t want to monitor what is plugged in constantly and in use, try using a smart power strip. Not only can they monitor your consumption to provide real-time insights, but you can also schedule them to turn off automatically, control them remotely when you’re not at home, and even cut off power when a device is not in use.
Other methods of reducing energy consumption require some upfront investment, but they can also lead to larger energy savings. Cooling and heating your home requires a substantial amount of energy, and better insulation, so that air doesn’t leak, can reduce the amount of energy required to keep a comfortable and constant temperature. For those who don’t pay for single-rate pricing, residents can save significantly by avoiding peak electricity times. Whilst it might not be possible to avoid using electricity at certain times of the day, hot water comprises a quarter of energy use, and by altering your schedule, you can benefit from off-peak pricing. Energy providers define peak and off-peak times that can change throughout the year, and by keeping an eye on changes, you can ensure you don’t pay more than you have to.
Installing solar panels on your roof means you produce your own power during the daytime, and can drastically reduce the cost of your energy in three ways. Powering your home with solar energy can reduce the amount of electricity you need to buy from your retailer, it can help reduce peak demand and avoid costs, and can even earn you money by exporting excess electricity to the grid. The exact amount you save depends on several variables including your energy consumption and usage, the type and size of your solar system and battery, tariff rate, and location, but average households can expect to save $400 per year per kW, which can result in thousands of dollars of savings each year.
Water may not cost as much as energy, however, if you’re looking to reduce utility costs, conserving water is also an important step. Purchasing efficient appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines can make a huge difference as they are far more effective than washing by hand, however, for those who don’t want to buy new appliances, implementing water-saving strategies can be useful. Washing machines and dishwashers both typically have an eco mode that can reduce the amount of water used with each cycle. Showers comprise a quarter of the water we consume, and reducing the time spent washing can prevent unnecessary usage. Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving is a habit that everyone should be doing.
Houses that have access to bore water can entirely reduce the wastage of drinking water for external purposes such as gardening and other outdoor uses. Within Altogether’s water communities, recycled water is available for irrigation, washing and toilet flushing, helping conserve precious drinking water.
At Altogether Group, we offer energy services that can help households and communities save money on electricity, as well as water services that can reduce unnecessary water wastage. As a leading provider of embedded networks in Australia, we provide competitive pricing for our electricity services when compared with traditional retail providers. By gathering the electricity of a whole complex to a single metered point, Altogether Group can negotiate bulk rates and distribute the savings to residents. Plus, thanks to our smart metering, you can reduce energy wastage so that you only pay for what you use. Our recycled water systems can help you to cut costs on water as well, as recycled water can be used in the laundry and outside as well.
Reducing utility costs at home can make a big difference in combatting the cost of living crisis that many Australians are battling, and by implementing our tips and our utility services, you can help reduce your carbon footprint as well.
If you would like to learn more about how Altogether is supporting households and communities to reduce utility costs, get in touch with us today.
At Altogether, we deliver reliable, localised essential services to over 500 communities across Australia. From world-leading recycled water systems to efficient embedded energy networks in high-rise communities, and smart grids in small communities, we're determined to do the right thing by our customers, and by the planet. As a multi-utility service provider, it’s our mission to make the world a brighter place, and we do that by offering sustainable power, water and data services.
