Country Energy - hot water

cut your water heating costs

Hot water accounts for up to half an average household's energy use in NSW.

The overall cost of your hot water depends not only on the type of heater and fuel used, but also on the way the unit is installed and how you use hot water.

By taking the following things into consideration, you can potentially reduce your hot water costs by up to 70%.

Choose a hot water system that is the right size for your requirements.
Check the energy ratings labels to ensure you are getting the most efficient system (currently only available on gas or solar hot water systems).
Pick the best place in the home to install the system - close to the kitchen is the ideal spot and preferably not too far from the bathroom and laundry.
Save energy by insulating the first few metres of outlet pipe from your hot water cylinder.
Fix any dripping taps you may have - if your tap drips at a rate of 60 times a minute, you could be wasting 450 litres of water each month.
Remember to plug your sink before running hot water.
Short showers generally use less hot water than baths.
Use cold water where possible - for example, try washing in cold water detergents.

Taking a bit of time in choosing the best hot water system for you can be beneficial in the long run. For a more detailed guide to choosing and operating a hot water system, you can visit the Green Power website or download one of their brochures from the links on the right.