One in two Australian households plan to reduce their heating this winter, new research shows.
In a survey commissioned just before winter set in, Money.com.au found that half of us (51 per cent) will reduce the use of non-essential appliances, while almost half (48 per cent) will use appliances and power points only when necessary.
Quite a few (24 per cent) of the respondents were prepared to switch energy providers to get lower rates, but not many (only 4 per cent) were keen on changing the number of days they work from home each week.
Surprisingly, a quarter of respondents (25 per cent) said they would not be changing their energy usage at home at all.
When comparing states, the survey found that the ACT and NSW are the most energy conscious states, with 79 per cent of respondents stating they will be changing their energy usage at home
Queenslanders, it seems, are the least concerned about their energy usage, though that might be because they don’t generally experience the same extremes of cold as other states do.
35 per cent of Queenslanders will limit heating or cooling, along with 41 per cent of South Australians, 43 per cent of Victorians and NSW residents, and 44 per cent of households in Western Australia.
Many (45 per cent) of Queenslanders will reduce use of non-essential appliances, followed by 52 per cent of WA residents, and 53 per cent of Victorians and NSW residents.
Young people are more likely to lower their energy use. Ninety (90) per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds plan to reduce their energy usage, compared with 65 per cent of over-61s.