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Electricity

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  Queensland Electricity
• Energy saving tips

Energy Saving Tips

 Home heating

• Make sure that any open or unused fireplaces are blocked off to stop warm air escaping up the chimney.
• Close curtains and door when heaters are on.
• Close curtains just before night time.
• Turn off heaters when you're not in the room.
• Keep any north facing windows clean to allow the winter sun in.
• Trim trees that may block the sun from coming in.

Water heating

• Wash clothes in cold water - with today's modern soap powders and liquids it's usually just as effective.
• Fill your electric jug with cold water.
• Rinse dishes with cold water.
• Wash lots of dishes at once making sure to use just enough hot water to do the job properly.
• Wait until your dishwasher is full before doing a wash.
• Do your laundry in fewer, larger loads.
• Have short showers rather than a bath.
• Check that your hot water cylinder thermostat is set between 55-60 degrees celsius.

Home lighting

• Turn off lights in rooms that aren't being used.
• Make sure lights and lampshades are clean to ensure you get maximum brightness.
• Use the right strength bulb for your lighting needs - 40 watt bulbs are sufficient for desk and bedside lamps.
• Use lightshades with white linings - they reflect more light.

Cooking

• Use pots and pans that are suited for the size of the elements.
• Keep the lid on pots and pans when cooking.
• Boil water in a kettle rather than a pot on the stove.
• Thaw food naturally and completely before cooking.

Household appliances

• Dry your washing outside in the line as often as you can - it's usually better for your clothes too.
• Don't overload your dryer.
• Make sure the filter is clean on your dryer before you do a load.
• Turn off your electric blanket before you go to sleep - the most efficient use of your electric blanket is to turn it on about an hour before you go to bed and turn it off before you go to sleep.
• Unplug your TV when you go away for the weekend or on holiday.
• Switch off appliances with standby facilities - this is also a good safety tip.

Gas heating

• Gas will not burn properly if there is inadequate room ventilation, poor flueing or a lack of regular servicing.
• Regular servicing will ensure gas burns properly.
• If gas does not burn properly, pollutants such as carbon monoxide will be produced.
• Flues (properly designed air outlets that work like chimneys) are designed to remove combustion pollutants to the outside air.
• If your heater is not working properly or the flueing is not removing all pollutants your health may be affected. If the pollutant levels get very high you can become tired or short of breath. You may develop headaches, dizziness, nausea and weakness. You could also become sleepy and/or confused.

Space heaters

• The pilot flame in a space heater burns blue. If the flame in your heater is burning continuously yellow then it may need servicing.
• Discolouration on the outside case of a space heater could indicate a faulty flue. You need to get this checked by a licensed gas fitter.

Unflued heaters

• Many modern household heaters are attached to a flue (a properly designed air outlet that works like a chimney to carry away fumes). If you are using a heater that doesn't have a flue make sure you have plenty of fresh air coming into the room.
• Flueless heaters must not be installed in bedrooms.

Central heating

• Make sure that sufficient warm air registers are open in your central heating, as recommended by the manufacturer.

Gas cooking

• More than 50% of all household fires are related to cooking with ovens and stove tops being the most likely appliances involved.
• Most kitchen fires are caused by people leaving cooking unattended and then forgetting about it.

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