Shorten your shower

Using electricity to heat water is not only expensive, it also causes a lot of carbon pollution. The power used by your electric hot water system may account for more than a third of your household's annual power use, as well as producing thousands of black balloons of carbon pollution.

Taking shorter showers is an easy way to use less power. For example, cutting your shower time by three minutes can save $35 per person per year on household power bills.

Get the whole family to take shorter showers and the savings will really flow.

By reducing shower times by just three minutes each, a three person household can save around $105 a year and cut their carbon pollution by 1,500kg.

There are simple things you can do to use less hot water and start saving dollars and carbon pollution right away:

• install a water-efficient showerhead – a standard showerhead can use up to 25 litres of water per minute, whereas water-efficient showerheads use as little as seven litres per minute (look for an energy rating - the more stars the better)
• use a shower timer – it'll make it easier to have quicker showers
• stay focused - soap your body, wash your hair, shave if required and then rinse – you'll be surprised at how fast you can do it all.

Remember, the more activities you do in the shower, like brushing your teeth, the longer your shower takes and the more hot water you'll use.