For home and business

With the cost of living going up, we’ve put together some tips for you to keep your power bill down. EnergyMate also have some great tips on how you can reduce your power bill. 

Photo at a home with open ceiling wood studs with pink insulation

Insulate

Ceiling and underfloor insulation can help reduce heat loss by over 50%. A well-insulated home costs less to heat.

Photo of selective focus on water condensation on window glass showing home moisture.

Reduce the damp

A damp home is bad for your health and uses more energy to heat. Put a ground moisture barrier under your house to keep the dampness out.

Photo of a family of five sitting on two couches in a living room, watching TV. There is a bowl of popcorn between one of the teenaged girls and grandfather.

Draw your curtains

Draw your curtains 30 minutes before sunset to conserve heat and close doors to the rooms you don’t need to heat.

Photo of PVC aluminum profile frame double glazing cross section on a closed window sill.

Invest in double-glazing

Double-glazed windows will help keep the heat in, and good quality thermal curtains and blinds will also help.

Photo close up of woman saving energy insulating home putting draught excluder against front door

Stop the drafts

Use door snakes to stop any drafts coming in under the doors and fix any gaps in the walls or around your windows.

Photo of an older man reaching up to change a lightbulb.

Changing lightbulbs

LED light bulbs use 85% less power and can last 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This means you buy light bulbs less often and use less power when the lights are on!

Photo of white clean laundry modern room with washer and dryer

Ventilate the laundry

Make sure your laundry room is well-ventilated otherwise your dryer is forced to use the damp air it expels, which takes longer to dry your clothes and your power bill increases.

Photo of a fridge full of groceries.

Check appliance seals

Fridges, freezers and ovens with worn door seals use unnecessary power. Most appliance centres supply and fit replacement seals.

Bathroom shower head spraying water

Have shorter showers

Reducing your shower time by just one minute can save you a lot of power.

Photo of hot water cylinder, pump, thermometer for water heating system at home.

Wrap your hot water cylinder

Check if your hot water cylinder is insulated, if not, wrap it up! You can get insulation wraps from any good hardware store.

Photo of a drop of water dripping from the tap. Selective focus.

Stop the drip

One leaking hot tap can use around $40 in unnecessary power throughout the year. This can be easily solved by replacing the washers in any dripping taps.

Photo of a washing machine being turned on.

Wash in cold water

Wash clothes in cold water if possible and wait until you’ve got a full load before washing. Hang it outside to dry when you can.

Photo of home appliances collection set

Buying appliances

Choose energy-efficient appliances. The Energy Rating label lets you compare the efficiency of similar products - the more stars, the more efficient the product is.

Photo of a couple in a white kitchen, the man is putting a roasting dish into the oven and the woman is at the kitchen sink looking at him over her shoulder.

Powerswitch

Consumer NZ has a free and independent check to help you find the cheapest electricity plan from participating retailers. It’s simple, fast and could help you save an average of $300 per year.

Photo of a family of four people: mother, father and twin teenaged girls standing in front of their home with a pink light filter

More winter energy saving tips

Download this handy brochure from Consumer NZ and ECCA, with tips to manage your energy use and reduce your power bills during the colder months.