NSW residents could be spending hundreds of dollars each year on energy they don’t need to use, according to new research from iSelect.
With living costs from fuel to mortgage repayments soaring in recent months, Aussie households are looking to save in any way they can.
Yet, wasted energy is costing households in NSW as much as $398 per year, according to research showing how much energy could realistically be avoided across everyday activities like heating and cooling, hot water, cooking, lighting and appliances across low, medium and high scenarios.
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NSW households could be wasting as much as $1.2bn statewide each year, or $398 per household.
Weekly, that’s a spend of approximately $7.65 per household on avoidable energy use.
In NSW, the largest sources of avoidable electricity waste were appliances, followed by space cooling and water heating.
Appliance-related waste is largely driven by standby power, unnecessary runtime and inefficient use of high-energy appliances.
For households using gas, water heating drives the most waste, adding up to almost $16 a year.
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Low, medium and high wasted household energy models reveal how much Aussies are spending on unnecessary energy. Source: iSelect
Statewide avoidable energy waste in NSW produces between 688,000 and 2.1m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
At the upper end, this is roughly equivalent to taking more than two million cars off the road.
Compared with other states, NSW households fall slightly below the national average in wasted energy per household, though the total cost and emissions remain substantial.
ACT households see the highest per-household waste, while houses in QLD and WA waste less energy than NSW on average.
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Household appliances are the biggest sources of wasted energy.
iSelect utilities general manager Julia Paszka said cutting avoidable energy waste doesn’t have to be complicated.
“Simple habits like turning off appliances when they’re not in use, unplugging chargers, turning lights off when not needed, and using efficient settings can make a real difference,” she said.
“Adjusting your thermostat just a few degrees higher in summer or lower in winter can reduce unnecessary heating and cooling costs without compromising comfort.
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Changes like matching pan sizes to burners can help reduce energy waste.
Ms Paszka also said efficient cooking habits, such as using lids on pots, matching pan sizes to the burner, and running full loads in dishwashers or washing machines, can save both energy and time.
“Even small changes in shower times or lowering water temperatures can add up,” she said.
“Together, these everyday choices can significantly reduce your energy bills and help the environment.”
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