5 Ways to Save Energy While the Kids Are Home for School Holidays

School holidays can be a wonderful time for families—but they can also send your energy bills soaring. With the kids home all day using devices, running the air con, and raiding the fridge, it’s no surprise many households notice a spike in power usage.

Luckily, a few simple strategies can keep your electricity use (and costs) under control without sacrificing comfort or fun. Here are five smart ways to save energy during the school holidays:

1. Set Boundaries Around Device Time

Tablets, gaming consoles, laptops and TVs can quickly become energy hogs when they’re in use all day long. Setting healthy screen-time boundaries doesn’t just support better habits—it helps reduce electricity use too.

Try this:

• Set specific “tech hours” during the day.

• Encourage alternative activities like outdoor play, reading, or board games.

• Turn off devices completely when not in use (standby mode still draws power).

Bonus tip: Plug multiple devices into a smart power board and switch it off at the wall when they’re done.

2. Use the Air Conditioner Wisely

With kids home all day, it’s tempting to keep the air con running non-stop. But that can add up quickly on your energy bill.

Here’s how to stay cool without blowing the budget:

• Set the thermostat between 24–26°C in summer or 18–20°C in winter.

• Close doors to unused rooms so you’re only cooling or heating the spaces you’re using.

• Use fans to circulate air—it’s cheaper and makes the room feel cooler.

• Make use of blinds and curtains to block out heat from the sun during peak hours.

3. Get the Kids Involved in Energy-Saving Challenges

Make energy efficiency a game the whole family can get behind. Create a “holiday energy challenge” where kids earn points or small rewards for eco-friendly actions like:

• Turning lights off when leaving a room

• Unplugging chargers

• Taking shorter showers

• Using natural light during the day

Not only does it help reduce consumption—it teaches them valuable habits for life.

4. Run Appliances in Off-Peak Times

With more people at home, the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer tend to run more often. But when you run them matters just as much as how often.

If you’re on a time-of-use energy plan, shifting use to off-peak times (often overnight or mid-afternoon) can lead to big savings.

Also:

• Run full loads only

• Use cold water for washing where possible

• Line-dry clothes instead of using the dryer on sunny days

5. Review Your Solar and Battery Setup

If you’ve got solar panels, this is the perfect time to maximise their value—especially if your battery can store excess energy for evening use when the kids are still up and devices are charging.

Tips to get the most out of your system:

• Run major appliances during daylight hours when solar output is highest

• Charge devices in the middle of the day

• Use a solar monitoring app to track usage and adjust habits accordingly

READY TO SPARK A CHANGE?