Here are 7 easy tips to help keep your energy bills down :

1.       Shut Doors and Close Curtains

Cooling the whole house can be expensive. Where possible, shut doors to areas you are not using and only cool the rooms you spend the most time in. Make sure your curtains or blinds seal your windows properly, and keep your curtains closed during the day when there is a heat-wave. Block draughts around doors and windows to stop cool air leaking out.

Use external shading, such as external blinds or canvas awnings, to keep the sun off the windows.

2.       Set your Thermostat

In summer, set your thermostat to 26 degrees or above. In winter, heating can account for over 30% of your bill. Set your thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees. Every degree above 20 can add 10% to your heating bill.

3.      Turn Heaters and Coolers Off When You Don't Need Them

Turn off when you leave the room, or go to bed. With some ducted heating systems you can turn off the heating in the rooms that are unoccupied. Make sure all your heating or cooling is turned off when you leave the house.

4.      Run Your Fridge Efficiently

Your fridge is always on, making it one of your most expensive appliances. Make sure the door seal is tight and free from gaps so cold air can't escape. An ideal fridge temperature is 4 or 5 degrees and an ideal freezer temperature is minus 15 to minus 18 degrees Celsius. If you have a second fridge or freezer, only turn it on when you need it.

5.      Save Energy in The Kitchen

Thaw frozen food in your fridge to reduce cooking time. When you are cooking, use the microwave when you can – it uses much less energy than an electric oven. If you use the stove, keep lids on your pots to reduce cooking time. Use the economy cycle on your dishwasher and only run it when it's full.

6.      Use Energy-Efficient Light Globes

Replace old halogen light globes with energy-efficient LED globes. Energy-efficient globes save power and last longer. Light globes can sometimes be replaced for free or at reduced cost.

7.       Understand and Improve Your Home's Energy Use

A Scorecard assessment looks at the fixed features of your home – the way it's built and insulated, heated and cooled, your lighting and water heating – and suggests the most effective changes you can make to reduce your power use and increase your comfort. Scorecard's unique 'hot weather rating' explains how to keep your house cooler in a heatwave, even without air conditioning.

Small steps go a long way.  Cut down on your power and save big!