Corporate information

Power saving tips for summer

Keep windows, curtains and blinds closed during the day to stop the summer sun from getting into the house.
At night time, open windows and blinds to let hot air out and cool air in. If you have west facing windows, open them in the late afternoon to let the sea breeze in.
At the start of summer, clean the filters in your air conditioner. This means your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard when cooling your house.
Before turning on the air conditioner, try using a fan, you could save up to $200.
Keep your air conditioner setting at 24 degrees – every degree lower you set your air conditioner can significantly affect running costs during the summer.
Keep the doors to the room you’re trying to cool closed when using the air conditioner. This prevents cool air from escaping and the air conditioner isn’t cooling rooms you’re not using.

Put some shade cloth over your east and west facing windows. This will stop some of the sun before it hits your windows and heating up your house.
Plant deciduous trees/ bushes on the western and eastern sides of your house. These will block summer sun but let winter sun through.

Install roof insulation. This will prevent heat entering the house but also the cool air from your air conditioner escaping.
Install 'whirly birds' or roof ventilators on your roof. This will remove hot air from the roof cavity, helping keep the house cool.

Turn off your second fridge and save up to $200 a year.
Turn off standby power and save up $150 a year.
Replacing your old incandescent lights with CLF's could save you up to $165 a year.
Replacing 10 downlights with 10 LED lights could save you up to $150 a year.
Ajusting your storage hot water system from 80 degrees to 60 degrees could you up to $70 a year.
During summer and warm weather, try not to use your clothes dryer and save up to $95 a year.
Washing your clothes in cold water could save up to $40 a year.
Reducing waching machine and diswasher loads by one each week, and only washing will full loads could save you up to $50 a year.
Two family members reducing their shower time from 8 minutes to 4 four minutes could save up to $170 a year.
Make sure you don’t use your pool pump longer than is recommended in the operation manual. When you do use your pool pump, try to avoid the peak electricity use period of 4pm to 8pm.

Before you leave don’t forget to:

Turn your electrical appliances off at the wall – leaving your appliances on standby still uses electricity.
Turn off timers – if you have any appliances (including your air conditioner), on a timer make sure you don’t waste electricity and money by leaving them on when not needed.
Switch off the second fridge – if your second fridge is only used for keeping drinks cool, turning it off when you’re away is a simple way to save electricity.

When you’re on holiday it’s easy to be energy efficient:

When you go out switch off the air conditioner - closing curtains and blinds will block out the hot sun and keep it cool inside without wasting electricity.
Keep up your good energy saving habits – remember to not leave lights on and appliances on standby before you head out for the day.
Beat the peak between 4 and 8pm – if you’re staying in a holiday home help beat the peak by using major appliances (e.g. dishwashers and washing machines), outside of these hours.

For more tips and to create your personal energy saving plan visit switchthefuture.com.au

Source: Perth Solar City program 2012, for more information visit perthsolarcity.com.au