Five Handy Tips To Help Take The Heat Off Your Winter Energy Use

With World Environment Day fast approaching (Thursday, 5 June) Origin, Australia’s number one green energy provider is encouraging households to lower their energy consumption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills.

In winter, the typical Origin household consumes approximately 2700 kWh of energy, which is 7 per cent more than in the warmer months.

The following five tips provide easy ways for households to use energy without sacrificing comfort this chilly season:

1.      Set temperatures wisely

Thermostats and heaters should be set at a maximum 8ºC higher than outside temperatures. A higher degree setting can increase the cost on your energy bill by up to 10 per cent.

2.      Let in natural light

Open blinds during sunny winter days and allow the sun to heat the inside of your home.

3.      Replace standard light globes with energy efficient globes.

Energy efficient globes cut greenhouse gas emissions and running costs by up to 75% but produce just as much light.

4.      If it blinks, switch it off!

Many appliances use less electricity when they’re doing little or nothing, so don’t forget to turn off the TV or computer screen when you’ve finished using them.

5.      Install AAA rated shower roses

It may be cold, but using the shower to heat up is not the best solution for you and the environment. Change from a standard 15 litre/minute flow rose to 9 litre flow and you may save more than 450 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions this winter.

Origin’s Anne Armansin understands the growing financial pressures families face today and recognises that higher energy consumption during winter can add to this burden, not to mention place added pressure on the environment.

“As the colder months approach, households tend to increase their heating usage without considering running costs and the impact this has on their energy bills and the environment. There are simple actions people can take to reduce their energy consumption, save money on their bills and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” Armansin said.

To find out more visit Origin’s Energy Institute at energyinstitute.com.au

For further information or to arrange an interview with Anne Armansin, please contact:

Undertow Media

Natalia Totsikas
0431 022 655
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Kate Aurel-Smith:
0409 528 024
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Origin

Amelia Daly:
0413 616 435
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About Origin

In Australia, Origin retails electricity to 1.8 million customers and natural gas and LPG to over 1.2 million customers mostly in eastern Australia. Origin is Australia’s leading green energy retailer and sells a range of sustainable energy products including GreenPower, Green Gas and carbon offsets to residential and business customers. In June 2007 Origin reached a key milestone of 250,000 green energy customers. Through Contact Energy, we sell electricity, natural gas and LP Gas (LPG) to a customer base of nearly 650,000 in New Zealand.