Twenty tips to reduce your energy bill in New Zealand

We all know that the power bill can come as a massive shock. But what are you supposed to do when winter drags on well into October? Here are the top 20 tips for cutting down your energy bill from Energywise. 

1. Draw those curtains! - They're not just a pretty decoration. If you don't already, consider investing in some nice thick curtains to lock in even more heat.
2. Stop the draughts - The old saying goes 'better a gale from the front then a draught from the back'. 
3. Turn your heaters off if you don’t need them. Don't leave them on all day. 
4. Close your rooms so you are only heating the spaces you need. I'm sure the washing machine doesn't care if it's cold. 
5. Stop the rot. Fix any leaks and clear your gutters - leaky pipes and blocked guttering can cause moisture inside your home, which can lead to mould.
6. Insulate under your floor. This sounds complicated but it really isn't. Lay down a ground vapour barrier - this is basically, a giant piece of black plastic sheet that sits on the dirt under your house, keeping dampness away.
7. Clear the vents - You know those vents on the outside of your house? Well, check the outside of the house to make sure they are clear of plants or other blockages. This helps to move damp air out from under your house.
8. Open a window when cooking. Cooking introduces moisture to your home. The best way to get rid of this moisture is with externally vented extraction fans and vents. If you don't have these, open windows during or after cooking, showering and washing up.
9. Dry clothes outside or in a vented clothes dryer - try not to use indoors airing racks. The moisture in the clothes will end up in your home.
10. Air your home - open windows and doors at the same time once or twice a day to air the house and let moisture escape, even in winter. Don’t forget to open wardrobe and cupboard doors.
11. Ventilate your bedroom - sleeping with your bedroom window open a crack lets out the moisture that naturally builds up over the night.
12. Air your bedding - especially in winter. Duvets, pillows, and other heavy bedding absorbs moisture over time, so air them outdoors when it’s sunny.
13. Avoid unflued gas heaters which release toxic fumes and make your house damp. Cheap portable electric heaters are safer and cost less to run.
14. Turn lights off when you're not using them.
15. Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient ones and save $100 or more a year on electricity in your house.
16. Use an efficient showerhead - it still gives you a great shower, but uses much less water. To check the flow rate of your shower, put a 10 litre bucket under the shower - if it fills in less than a minute, your showerhead is wasting water. An efficient showerhead has a flow rate of 9 litres per minute, or less.
17. Reduce shower time - a 15 minute shower costs around $1, a 5 minute shower around 33c. A family of 4 could be saving around $18 a week just by taking shorter showers. That’s $900 a year.
18. Use cold washes - unless you have an especially dirty load. Modern washing machines and detergents clean well using cold water. A hot water wash uses 90% more electricity than a cold wash.