If opening up your energy bill is an experience that fills you with dread, it may be time to start looking for ways to reduce your household’s energy spending. The good news is that moving homes is the perfect opportunity to put in place all those energy saving habits you’ve been meaning to get around to.

Kirsty Lamont, director of comparison site Mozo.com.au has shared some tried and tested tips on how you can start saving energy from day one in your new home.

Energy audit of your new home

Conduct an audit of your new home to flag any areas where you may be losing energy. The typical household losesaround 20% to 30% of their heated and cooled air through leaks in the duct system, so it may be a good idea to have your ducts inspected to ensure they’re sealed properly and insulated. Apply weather-stripping and draught stoppers to your windows and doors to plug any air leaks to ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t working overtime and resulting in higher utility bills.

Purchase energy efficient appliances

Moving into a new house is a great time to ditch your dated, energy guzzling refrigerator and front loader. In its place install energy and water efficient models that will cost you less to run over the life of the appliance.

Swap your old light bulbs 

On top of dated appliances, traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs are another major energy waster around the home.With electric lighting accounting for up to a quarter of the average home energy budget, it’s worth doing a room-by-room sweep once you move in to swap any old light bulbs for more energy efficient fluorescent lights or LEDs. 

Maximize natural light in your new home

Harnessing the sun as a free source of light can help you keep your electricity costs down as well as make your new home look more inviting. Maximizing the natural light in your home doesn’t have to be a costly exercise and can be as simple as painting the walls and ceilings in lighter hues and strategically positioning furniture away from windows. If you’re planning a renovation after you move in, it might be a good idea to enlarge some of the windows in your home or install a skylight to invite more sunlight in.

Landscape your garden strategically

Giving your new garden a much-needed facelift isn’t just about aesthetics; it can also help cut down your energy bill too. Strategically placed trees, shrubs or artificial shading like eaves and pergolas around the outside of your home could act as a windbreak during the colder months and great source of shade in summer. In fact, a well shaded home can block up to 90% of the sun’s heat.