What are the biggest energy hogs in your home?

Your air conditioner

Reverse cycle ducted systems

The average ducted air conditioning system uses 6,000 watts of electricity every hour which means a running cost of around $1.80 per hour. If your air-con is running constantly during a hot spell (for 24 hours), this could add up to $43 day to your electricity bill for each hot day. And for cooling, the lower the temperature setting - the higher the bill!

Split systems

If you have split systems for your home, the average running cost can range from 30c an hour for a small 3KW system up to 65c an hour for a large 7KW system.

This may not sound like much, but if your air conditioner is running for 8 hours a day over summer, your electricity bill for a mid-sized unit could be $468 just for the 3-month summer period - and if you have more than one split system running, it obviously adds up to much more over the year.

Ducted evaporative system

The cost to run a ducted evaporative air conditioning system depends on a few things, including the size of your home and the efficiency of the system. On average, it can cost anywhere from $300 to $800 per year based on an average electricity cost of 30c/hour.

Savings tips

• Pedestal fans generally use a lot less electricity- and you might want to open your house at night if the breeze is blowing - but make sure your home is secure.

• Close the blinds or curtains to keep out the heat.

• Consider installing outdoor blinds to keep out the sun.

• You could also have your windows tinted.

• Make sure your air conditioning system is the right size for your room/home.

• Set your air-conditioning thermostat to 24°C in Summer (and 18°C in Winter) and only use it when you really need it. Air conditioners set below 24 degrees in summer will add 5-10% to the running cost.

• Make sure your air conditioner gets an annual service to keep it running efficiently.

• And try these helpful tips to lower your air conditioning bill this summer

Your tumble dryer

Although it may seem like the simplest solution on a hectic day, pulling clothes straight from the washing machine and throwing them into the dryer is not the most cost-effective or energy-efficient approach.

• The annual bill for a basic vented clothes dryer can cost from $80-$100 (1 load per week) to $580-$650 (7 loads per week).

• The annual cost of a condenser dryer will typically cost between $70-$90 for 1 load per week and $520-$630 if you use it every day.

• A heat pump condenser is the most cost effective at $20-$50 annual cost for 1 load a week and $150-$330 for daily use.

Source: https://www.energyrating.gov.au/

Savings tips

• Use your clothesline as much as you can, after all, we do have one of the best climates for drying laundry - even in winter!

• If you do need to use your tumble dryer, take advantage of cheaper electricity

• Try these tips to tumble dry your clothes faster

• If you have solar power, try to use your dryer during the middle of the day (unless you have a storage battery) when your solar system produces the most electricity.

And when replacing any electrical appliance in your home, look for the star rating and get the most energy efficient model that is within your budget.

*All prices are approximate and will depend on the age and condition of your appliance and the electricity tariff used.

Source: Synergy and Canstar Blue