Energy saving habits are easy to learn. Daily behaviours can save resources, money and reduce your contribution to global warming.

The cost of energy is rising, the effect of pollution increasing. Yet with just a couple of hours effort we can cut our household energy use by over a ¼ and rapidly repay this investment within a year or two with the savings on our energy bill. The energy efficiency of the technology available to us is improving, and when combined with our common sense can create large reductions in energy use.

Do it now!

Adjust your daily habits to save tonnes of CO2 (and dollars) going into the atmosphere every day…

Some habits to get you started…

• Switch off all lights when you don’t need them – seems obvious but too many don’t switch off the lights when they leave the room.
• Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use – depending on the model you TV could use more power when it is idle (left on standby) than when in use i.e. stand up uses up to a quarter of full power. So get used to turning off televisions, VCRs, and computers at the wall when you’ve finished using them.
• Turn down your thermostat & put on a jumper - turning it down by just 1°C can save you up to 10 per cent on your heating bill.
• Use pot lids when cooking - Keep lids on pans when cooking and reduce the energy required.
• Cold drink of water - Keep drinking water in the fridge instead of letting the tap water run for a few moments before the water becomes cold.
• Drying your clothes - Let clothes dry naturally rather than using a tumble drier.
• Avoid disposable batteries - Use mains electricity rather than batteries if possible. If not, use rechargeable batteries.

To learn a new habit requires a couple of simple steps

1. Decide as a household the habits you’re going to establish and ensure everyone is onboard;
2. Set up reminders, notes on the fridge, light switches. Empower the kids to dob you in (they’ll love that);
3. Do the habit consciously for a week, then two, then it should be established and your unconscious will keep it going;
4. At the end of each energy billing period note the saving and reward yourselves.
   

Why this action is

important

In order for humans to establish a sustainable civilisation we must mimic and aspire to the efficiencies found in nature. This action is intended to engage people to understand the effect of their behaviour in terms of their long term returns (financial, environmental and intergenerational).