If you can save money on anything, why wouldn’t you? Particularly when you can so easily shop around online. All it takes is a bit of your time, in some cases only a few minutes. We think it’s worth seeing if you can save five or 10 dollars, so saving hundreds should be a no-brainer.
We also think that finding your long-term electricity or gas retailer should be something you spend more time on than, say, buying a pair of shoes or a toaster. However, it also shouldn’t be a difficult decision, if you can see the value laid out clearly for you.
When it comes to gas, we think you should check out what GloBird Energy offers. But it’s not just us saying that: Canstar has ranked us number 1 in the Outstanding Value – Gas Plans – VIC – 2025 category in their annual Energy awards.
Going with GloBird is just the first step
If you’re already with GloBird Energy, or if you do decide to switch to us because you can see that we offer a better value plan than your current provider, you should still look at how else to save.
After all, no matter how good your energy plan, using less gas will mean even lower bills.
Some households have more gas appliances than others, but heating and hot water are two of the most common gas-powered services that many homes use, so getting those working more efficiently and using them less is a great starting point. Heating costs vary greatly by climate, but hot water is used everywhere all year round and can account for as much as 20% of a household’s energy bill.
Here are 10 more things you might be able to do to reduce your gas usage and get your gas bills down (some of which cost nothing to implement).
1. Check your hot water temperature setting
Some people like to have very hot water coming out of their hot water system but then have to mix cold water with the hot to bring it to an ideal usable temperature. That means you’ve just wasted energy making your water hotter than it needs to be. So, try turning down the thermostat on your gas hot water system. Note that for a storage system the temperature must be 60 degrees to prevent Legionella bacteria growth but delivered to taps at no higher than 50 degrees to prevent scalding. For a continuous-flow system, there’s no need for it to be set higher than 50 degrees.
2. Install a low-flow showerhead
Just as showers use a lot less water than baths, low-flow showerheads give you an even more satisfying shower using less water than traditional but less efficient showerheads. And make sure you switch all taps off properly and fix any drips. You’d be amazed how much water goes down the drain every month even with the slightest drip.
3. Change your hot water system
There are two main types of gas hot water systems: storage and instantaneous (also known as continuous flow). Gas storage systems keep water heated in an insulated storage tank, while instantaneous systems heat water only as it’s needed. Storage systems are particularly inefficient, especially in cold climates, mainly because it’s not possible to insulate at the point where the gas flame is heating the tank. So, if you have a storage system, it’s worth considering whether an instantaneous system will be more efficient, particularly for a smaller household of only one or two people.
4. Switch to a heat pump hot water system
Heat pump hot water systems have become increasingly popular over the past few years. The Victorian government is currently offering significant rebates to encourage people (homes and businesses) with aging gas hot water systems to consider switching to a heat pump system. These work by extracting heat from the surrounding air to heat water in an insulated storage tank. Heat pump units can be integrated on top of their tanks or used as a separate (split system). Of course, they will work more efficiently in climates where the air is always warm.
5. Insulate against heat loss
Even though hot water tanks are insulated, there’s still associated heat loss, particularly as the water is moving from the tank to your taps. Insulating the water pipes attached to the system can help to reduce this and save you money. All exposed hot water pipes can be insulated if they’re accessible, but the first 2 metres coming from the hot water unit is the most critical section. You can even insulate some of the trickier hot water system appendages, like the relief valve.
6. Upgrade to more efficient appliances
The Australian Government’s Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme provides a star rating estimating how much water various appliances use. If the appliance uses hot water heated by gas, naturally using less water means less heating and less gas usage. So, look to upgrade to appliances with a higher energy efficiency star rating.
7. Wash your clothes in cold water
Washing machine and washing detergent makers have long made their appliances and powders or liquids just as effective when washing your clothes with cold water as with hot. If for some reason you really don’t want to switch to cold water washing, at least make sure you only wash your clothes when you have a full load (or adjust your water level to suit the volume of clothes being washed).
8. Find the economy mode button on your dishwasher
It’s surprising how many people don’t even know that all recently made dishwashers have an economy mode that washes your dishes at a lower temperature. If yours doesn’t, get one that does – and, while you’re at it, make sure it has a high energy efficiency star rating. Regardless of your model or mode, try to run the dishwasher only when it’s full, otherwise you’re washing the inside of the dishwasher more than washing dishes!
9. Keep the heat inside your oven
Check the seals around your oven door regularly, as any heat escaping through worn or damaged seals means more heat is needed to do the job of cooking your food. Keeping the door closed while cooking is also a good way to ensure you maximise the heat and don’t waste it. Meanwhile, gas ovens heat up quickly, so you can skip the preheating that most recipes include for the benefit of electric oven users!
10. Get better pots and pans!
If you have old pots and pans, particularly those made of less conductive metals, you might be using more heat than necessary to cook on your stovetop. Something as simple as having a snug-fitting lid can save a lot of energy when boiling, while a round-bottom pan allows the flame to heat your food more efficiently. And here’s a neat trick: turn the gas off just before the food is cooked and allow the residual heat to finish the cooking process.
Start right now by checking GloBird Energy’s gas rates
As the Canstar award indicates, if you’re not with GloBird Energy, there’s a good chance you could save money on your gas bills by switching to us.
It’s definitely worth a minute of your time to grab your gas meter serial number and visit our website to get a simple online quote and see whether we can reduce your gas bill.