With power bills skyrocketing in many parts of the country, you will need to do everything you can to cut back on your electricity usage.

We have written about how you can save money on electricity before, but there are ways you can save even more, one appliance at a time.

Quick tip

One of the most powerful ways you can save money is to try using most of your appliances during off-peak times (assuming your electricity supplier has off and on-peak times).

But knowing how much power your appliances use and how much they are costing you can cause you to use them a little more wisely.

Fridge

A 440 litre capacity fridge costs about $120 per annum to run.

Ways to save:

• Use it or lose it – Empty fridges cost more to run than full ones
• Stop using the beer fridge until the Summer months – or get rid of it altogether

Washing Machine

A top loader washing machine on a warm cycle uses around $360 per annum to run.

Ways to save:

• Try washing with cold water
• Always wash with a full load when you can

Dryer

It can be tempting to use your clothes dryer, but they can also be expensive to run. If you use your dryer just once a week you would be paying out around $130 per annum.

Ways to save:

• Try and use your clothesline as much as possible
• Clean the lint filter often
• Don’t overload the dryer

Television

A TV’s power consumption can vary widely, but can add up over the year. A 165 cm plasma TV will cost around $540 per annum to keep running, assuming you watch it for about 10 hours per day.

Ways to save:

• Buy an LCD TV – it will cost you about half as much to run
• Stop using that second television
• Stop watching so much TV

Air con

Like the clothes dryer, air cons are tempting to use but expensive to run. A 6kW reverse cycle air conditioner will cost about $220 per annum to run.

Ways to save:

• Use a fan instead on those not-so-hot days (cost around 3 cents an hour)
• Open windows and doors to get air flowing through your home
• Get your insulation looked at as this could save you in both heating and cooling costs

Heater

While a convection or radiant heater is cheaper to run than a reverse cycle air con, you would still be looking at around $400 per annum if you use it 5 hours per day.

Ways to save:

• Rug up and turn the heater down or off
• Get your insulation looked at as this could save you in both heating and cooling costs
• Use heavier curtains and close doors and windows to retain the heat

Computer

It has become a necessity these days, but the personal computer can cost you around $270 per annum assuming it is on for 6 hours per day.

Ways to save:

• Stop wasting time on the internet and go outside
• Don’t leave it on when you are not using it

Standby

And for all appliances (except maybe the fridge) make sure you turn them off at the wall when you are not using them. Just doing this can save you around $70 per annum.

Conclusion

Remember that all of these appliances (and others in your home) add up over time. You can save hundreds, if not thousands, over the course of a year depending on how much power you are using now and how savvy you start being.

Will you be taking steps to reduce your electricity use?