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NewsTurn off the Beer Fridge: 5 Ways to be Energy Savvy
Turn off the Beer Fridge: 5 Ways to be Energy Savvy

Turn off the Beer Fridge: 5 Ways to be Energy Savvy

Tags: Energy Information FiftyUp Club
Last updated by Jackie Levett on

Over-50s represent more than half of Australia’s buying power and when it comes to being energy efficient and saving money on household bills, they stand to benefit
more than any other group.

It is hard to believe, but a recent survey of 3,500 FiftyUp Club households found more than half are switching off their heaters, and suffering in the cold, in order to cut their electricity bill.

Our advice is: safety first. There are alternatives for reducing household bills. Firstly, you can make sure you're not paying too much by checking out the Club's special Electricity offers and comparing to what you have. 

Queenslanders, click here to see the offers

NSW & Victoria, click here to see the offers

And secondly, you can try to cut your usage safely. Here are 5 ways households can be energy savvy to slash the electricity bill:

1. Be appliance wise

You don’t need to switch off the heater and put your health at risk to reduce your power consumption. You can make smarter choices with the appliances you decide to use. Turn off a

ppliances that you are not using and don’t need. For example, you can turn off the beer fridge and turn down the temperature on the hot water system to 60 degrees. You can cut your usage by 10% just by turning off powerpoints. And a simple change like closing the

doors 

in individual rooms to keep the rooms warmer can also reduce your bill.

When it comes to heaters, gas heaters are the most efficient and cheapest to run, even though the initial outlay could set you back close to $1000. Those cheap electric heaters are the most costly in the long run even if they only cost $30 at the store.

80% of FiftyUp Club members are turning off powerpoints and lights to save energy. These small changes can go a long way to ensuring that you are using the right appliances, at the right time and for the right climate.

2. Knowing the time can save you a dime

At peak times during the day, households and businesses are all competing for electricity at the same time.  Electricity companies reward customers for consuming power in off-peak times to try and alleviate the demand for power during the day.

You can save on your bill if you plan to use your washing machine, dishwasher or heating in off peak times.

In some states, you can even get paid to switch some appliances to off-peak or “controlled load” tariffs. (See useful links below)

3. Check the energy rating star

Only 1 in 3 FiftyUp Club members are buying energy-efficient appliances. We are encouraging our members to take a closer look at the energy rating of the appliances they purchase.

Those big yellow stars on whitegoods such as dishwashers, fridges and washing machines can save you money in the long run. The more stars, the more money you will save over the lifetime of the whitegood.

For example, the difference between a 1-star fridge/freezer and a 3-star one can be $900 over the life of the machine.

4. Research your rebates

In each state and territory, the government offers varying levels of cash rebates to families, pensioners or low-income households. It is well worth your time to know what rebates are available to you. If you are eligible for one of these rebates, you could save yourself hundreds of dollars.

Here is a list of some of the rebates available to concession cardholders, pensioners, veterans and low-income households in NSW, QLD and Vic.

In NSW;

  • $150 Family Energy Rebate
  • $235 Low Income Household Rebate
  • $250 Combine Capped Rebate - If you are eligible for both rebates above you can receive more support in the form of an annual, combined, capped rebate, currently $250.

In QLD;

  • $320 Electricity Rebate (pensioners and concession holders)
  • $68 Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate (pensioners and concession holders)
  • Up to $720 The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme (emergency assistance for low-income households)

In Vic,

  • 17.5% off household electricity bills under the Annual Electricity Concession (for eligible concession card holders)
  • 17.5% off household electricity bills under the Winter Gas Concession between May and October (for eligible concession card holders)

There are also other rebates available for people who are suffering a medical condition and having trouble paying their bills. (See useful links below.)

5. Know your plan

Just over one-quarter of FiftyUp Club members have switched suppliers in order to save money on their bills, according to our research. Make sure you are on a plan the suits the needs of your household. If you are a professional who lives alone you will not necessarily need to be on the same plan as a large family with young children.

To compare your plan, click here to join the FiftyUp Club and see what discounted offers are available to you.

USEFUL LINKS:

For more information on Government rebates visit;

 

 

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

https://www.facebook.com/ExposingTonyAbbottTheLnpMemesStuff 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

https://www.facebook.com/DickheadAbbot 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

https://www.facebook.com/isthatthetruth/posts/575224735849543 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tony-Abbott-Worst-PM-in-Australian-History/151576228341304 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

https://www.facebook.com/TonyAbbottPleaseResignNow 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

he NSW Farmers Association has called on Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to take the community's concerns over an open-cut coal mine on the Liverpool Plains to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the Shenhua Watermark project yesterday, under strict conditions. Farmers claim the project will leave a massive hole in the most fertile agricultural land in the country. NSW Farmers Association President Fiona Simson said Mr Joyce needed to step up. "We hope that Barnaby Joyce will now take that forward, take that to the cabinet, take that to the Prime Minister and stop this mine in amongst Australia's most significant underground water resource," she said. The NSW Government had approved the project earlier this year. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Keep voting for the LIBS in NSW, soon you will eat what the Chinese will be kind enough to 'give' you, grown on YOUR land... But, please, remember, there are many billions to feed before you, you 'greedy' Aussie voters... 

Warren
Warren from NSW commented:

This is another ill-informed plagiarized quote from the NSW ‘A’ parrot. This mine is not on the Liverpool plains as you’ve been sucked into believing by the Green/Leftist baiters. It’s on non-arable land adjacent to farming land and can easily co-exist in unison. It has past the most stringent of environmental conditions ever set on a mining project over 10 years – thanks to NSW Baird Government. BTW, the Federal Government agreement is only part of the approval process – it’s up to the NSW Parliament to make the final decision. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Warren:

Good luck to you 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Warren:

The Chinese will feed you, your family, your friends with such policies (only if they want it, after they will have fed their Chinese compatriots...) ... Abbott, Baird, etc... are selling the 'farm' like previously same governments sold everything there was to sell (e.g. the RBA revealed in July 1997 that over a six-month period, with Peter Costello's approval, it had sold 167 tonnes, reducing Australia's reserves to just 80 tonnes. At this time, the value of its gold assets fell from $3.6bn to about $1.1bn. The RBA's sales pushed the world gold price down to an 11-year low, returning just $2.4bn for the gold that was sold via a single broker engaged without a tender. The same amount of gold would be worth about $11.2bn today...) 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

You've better be energy savvy! YOUR cost of living under the Coalition is climbing exponentially! Tony Abbott and the Liberals had a red hot go this week at trying to distract us from what they've really been up to. But Tony Abbott’s Royal Commissions won’t make us forget his attacks on Medicare, his plans for $100,000 degrees, cuts to pensions, and his bizarre war on renewable energy. If Tony Abbott wants us to focus on Labor’s record of standing up for the pay and conditions of working people, instead of the lies he told to get into office or his $80 billion in cuts to schools and hospitals, then so be it. 

Warren
Warren from NSW commented:

NSW ‘A’, you’ve successfully plagiarized and regurgitated the standard shock statements from the ALP, you numb nut, yet you’re a professed Leftist-Green and welfare participant. Is there anything original about your opinions or are you a just an ‘A’ typical mushroom kept in the dark? 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Warren:

Like the obnoxious bigot you 'served' us, you won't go away, will you... Play the ball, be 'smart' for a change you idiot. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Chinese will take over Australia without firing a shot... The 'process' has started... Thank you coalition voters! 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Baby face HUNT, your environment minister! Would be farcical if was not so sinister! 

Isabella
Isabella from NSW commented:

THEY ARE KOREAN. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

HOW TO TELL WE CANNOT TRUST AN AUSSIE WHEN IT COMES TO CHINESE OWNED COAL MINES? In the Liverpool Plains (source of the best food one can find on his/her plate...) the INDEPENDANT CANDIDATE who presented himself to the previous election of a ticket of NO MINE, there, LOST by... 29 votes out of 30 ! YOU ARE BLOODY IDIOTS OVER THERE (and elsewhere...) ! 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

* (Source ABC) Farmers had their chance at March poll: Shenhua Shenhua Watermark project manager Paul Jackson said voters had an opportunity to support an anti-mining agenda at the March poll. "The real straw poll was the March election where the local member, the Nationals member, had a 4 per cent increase in his majority and the independent, who openly ran on an anti-mining, anti-Shnehua platform, lost 29 of the 30 ballots," he said. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

HOW to TELL your GOVERNMENT IS absolute 'RUBBISH' ? You pay for filling your tank of petrol the same price you paid when the wholesale price of a barrel in Singapore was AUD120: it oscillates now between 53 dollars & 60 dollars ! Not unlike the price, long term of your utilities in a way, petrol for the car is also the compulsory expense in a country with minimal public transportation... Keep voting for the Coalition, you sillies... 

Warren
Warren from NSW commented:

This does not make any sense - where are you getting this rubbish from? 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to Warren:

Now you look stupid, Warren, anyone driving a car (not a poor person, yes, I remember what your stupid Hockey said...) knows, him/her... 

David
David from NSW commented:

where is the "un-like" button? or the "dickhead" button?? 

Warren
Warren from NSW replied to David:

It's all a NSW 'A'. My dog has better mannerism than this clown. 

Someone
Someone from NSW replied to David:

Keep paying twice as much as you should, then.. What is that called? A d h, no? 

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