Did you know that 23% of your household energy goes to heating water? It’s easy not to realize it, but between your dishwasher, laundry machine, and relaxing baths, your household uses a lot of hot water.
The good news is that when one area of usage represents such a large part of your bill, you have an opportunity to save money. Cut a little bit of hot water usage and you’ll enjoy a monthly break on your bill.
Check out 4 easy ways to use less hot water here!
1. Shower Instead of Bathe
Ever thought about how much water it takes to fill up a bathtub? About 150 litres depending on the size of your bathtub. It sure might be relaxing to soak in a warm bubble bath, but to save on hot water, try saving the baths for special occasions.
For daily bathing, take showers instead. And be sure to keep them short otherwise you’ll defeat the purpose.
2. Low-Flow Showerhead
To further reduce the impact of daily bathing, try switching to a low-flow showerhead. We know what you’re thinking “but what about my water pressure?!” First, we take away the relaxing bath, and now we’re telling you to stand in a pathetic drizzle of water.
Rest assured, we are not. Modern low-flow showerheads are designed to offer the pressure of a standard showerhead while using less water. It kind of sounds like magic, but it’s just smart people applying physics.
3. Turn Down the Thermostat
Most households can get by just fine with a thermostat set to 60 degrees Celsius, 65 tops. This will heat enough water fast enough to comfortably meet your needs. Most systems will have a thermostat on the exterior that you can set. You can also measure the temperature of the water from the tap with a thermometer if necessary.
If you have a few guests come to visit, you might consider turning it up, just remember to turn it back down when they leave.
4. Get a New Hot Water System
Different hot water systems use energy at a different rate. If your system is getting old and is due for an update, switching to another type could save you a significant amount of money each month.
The best choice for ongoing usage is to install a solar PV system. The upfront costs are a little more expensive, but you can get rebate incentives from the government to help offset the cost.
Be Savvy and Save
There are many little tricks to save money on hot water costs, these are just a handful of ideas.
