Published: The Daily Telegraph Date: 11 November 2010
Save Power Challenge - Alex Ross in the front yard of his Sydney home.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
Using less power doesn't have to mean compromising on creature comforts. Its all about getting smart, cutting down waste and making the power you do use work harder for you, through insulation for example.
Getting power smart can help cut carbon pollution and reduce your electricity bills so why not follow our householders lead and see how low you can go?
For Save Power Challenge participant, Alex Ross, of Sydney's Dundas, getting power smart in the first week has made a monstrous difference to his consumption. So far, he has lowered his daily electricity consumption by more than half.
According to his assessor, he has learnt a lot of new tips about how to save power.
He has found his newly installed wireless energy monitor particularly useful. It is placed by his front door and he refers to this before leaving the house.
One quick glance, and I can tell if I've left any appliances on before leaving, he says.
The eco-switch has also provided a great benefit in reducing standby power, because when he now turns off his TV, all other appliances are switched off.
Alex admits that he is still using the dryer a bit much, as he does not yet have a clothes line installed, but he has modified his approach to clothes washing to reduce the number of loads.
Renae Dimovski
Renae Dimovski lives in Mount Warrigal with husband Peter and 22-month-old son, Lucas. She had a meter installed in the home this week and is looking forward to seeing the where the family is using most power.
Renae says the household bills have been humungous of late (around $800 a quarter) and is looking forward to honing in on where they can make savings.
Now the meter is installed, I'll be able to see the ways I can really cut down our energy use, she says.
She has an idea where savings could be made:
My husband likes to take extremely long showers and tends to leave lights and televisions on in rooms that aren't occupied.
Now he'll be able to see the difference and will feel as though he's been rapped over the knuckles.
Her suspicions could be correct: according to the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, leaving equipment on standby can account for 10 per cent of your power bill and create 10,000 black balloons of carbon pollution a year.