3 of the best apps to make your home more energy efficient

Lighting accounts for approximately 12 per cent of an average New Zealand household's electricity usage, according to the Electricity Authority (EA). By switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, you could significantly reduce your power bill.

This is excellent news considering that New Zealand electricity prices aren't exactly decreasing. EA stats from April/May 2017 indicate that the average annual power bill in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin is well over $2,000. 

Light Bulb Saver was originally developed by the Swedish Energy Agency and has been customised for use in Australia and New Zealand. It has a few components, but its most useful tool is a calculator that shows how much you could save by swapping your existing light bulbs for more energy efficient ones. The app allows you to compare different bulbs, including traditional incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), halogens and LEDs.

• In addition to this comparison function, the app offers a couple of other handy tools:
  Helpful tips on how to implement energy efficient lighting solutions for different rooms in your home; and
• A table to convert the wattage of traditional incandescents and halogens into lumens (which have now more or less replaced watts as the means to measure how much power a bulb uses).

The best part? Light Bulb Saver is available on iTunes for free.

2. Energy Rating Calculator

The Energy Rating Calculator app is designed for those in the market for new household appliances - think fridges, dishwashers, air conditioners, washing machines and dryers.

Refrigeration accounts for approximately 16 per cent of an average Kiwi home's electricity output, and electronic appliances account for an additional 22 per cent. That's why this app is so useful. It compares the costs of powering appliances from different brands - both in terms of upfront purchase costs and annual running costs over a 10-year period.

As a result, you can see both how much you'll pay initially for the appliance itself, as well as how much it will cost you over a decade. One particular fridge might be a few hundred dollars more expensive to buy, but could save you thousands over the course of 10 years if it's more efficient than a cheaper brand. The ability to compare brands helps you make an informed decision.

This app is free and available for download on both iTunes and Google Play.

3. Contact Energy app

We're ahead of the curve when it comes to providing our customers with the latest digital tools. We want to help you save on your power bills and make informed choices regarding energy efficient solutions. We're at the forefront of energy technology in the ways we source our energy, and we want to pass on the benefits of our innovation to our customers. That's why we had to include our own app on this list of apps that help you save energy! The Contact Energy app is a fantastic tool, as it offers you the ability to handle and monitor your energy usage and payments at the tap of a button. After downloading the app, you can:

• View your current electricity bill; 
• See your monthly electricity usage for a 12 month period;
• See your daily electricity usage for a 100 day period; 
• Check when your next payment is due;
• View previous bills;
• Set up direct debits; and 
• Provide us with your moving dates to make moving house simpler.

The Contact Energy app is available for free download on both iTunes and Google Play.