Dec2010 CAROLYNS PINE RIVERS NEWS
State Member for Pine Rivers
Merry Christmas
I would like to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holiday break and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Be aware when shopping on line for Christmas
Christmas Time is a great opportunity to remind shoppers about the pitfalls of buying presents online following a continued rise in complaints.
Online shopping has opened a new avenue for shoppers and in more recent times, it has become a particularly attractive shopping option due to the high Australian dollar.
Online shopping can be a good experience if shoppers are diligent and know what to look out for but could come with pitfalls for the unwary.
Sometimes goods online appear to be cheap when compared to goods in traditional stores, but when you add the cost of delivery the price may not be as attractive.
While it’s easy to compare the cost of ‘like with like’ online, for example a particular brand and model of an electrical item, it is much harder to compare more specialised items, such as furniture with some shoppers discovering the quality of such goods are not what they expected.
Some electrical items, such as DVD players, only work in the country for which they were made; others come with plugs for other country’s electricity supplies. While these can be made to work in Australia using converter plugs, the use of these may void some manufacturer’s warranties.
When purchasing items from overseas sites, shoppers need to remember that if something goes wrong it may be hard to enforce your rights and get your money back.
The trick is to make sure you do your research and ask about all of the conditions and terms of sale, including the refund policy of the on-line provider.
For more information on tips on purchasing online from within Australia or overseas, go to www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or to make a complaint about an online vendor, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Beware the risks posed by cheap Christmas lights
The Bligh Government is urging Queenslanders to resist the lure of cheap or second-hand Christmas lights because of the electrical dangers they can pose.
Cheap lights bought from markets, garage sales or the Internet could appear to be a bargain but they were not worth the risk.
With Christmas approaching, the Electrical Safety Office is reminding the public to play it safe by only buying lights approved for sale in Australia and using them strictly in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
People also need to be wary about buying lights over the Internet from other countries as they often have different electrical systems and safety standards that do not meet our requirements.
Look for an approval number – such as ‘Q041234’ – or the regulatory compliance mark logo which indicate compliance with Australian standards.
These marks must be on the lights and are usually found on a plastic tag near the plug or on the transformer if it is an extra-low-voltage type.
Queenslanders can further protect themselves by following the simple safety hints for buying, using and storing decorative lights available free on the Electrical Safety Office’s website at www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au or by calling 1300 650 662.
Conserve energy this Summer
A recent energy survey has found up to 46% of south-east Queenslander’s electricity use in Summer could be attributed to air-conditioning and refrigeration.
Many people may be surprised to learn that these two electrical appliances have such an impact on their electricity use over the warmer months.
Now is the time, during Summer, to use your energy sense and take control of your air-conditioning and refrigeration use.
Air-conditioners have become part of our lifestyles. 72% of south-east Queenslanders currently have air-conditioning installed and this figure is expected to jump considerably in the next five years.
By making small changes to your air-conditioning use this Summer, you won’t just save money on your electricity bill but you’ll also be reducing your carbon footprint.
There are six easy ways to slice the cost of your air-conditioning this summer
· Close windows and doors in areas you want to cool. Remember to close blinds and curtains too. It keeps the heat out of your home and makes your air-conditioner more efficient.
· Clean the filter pads on your air-conditioner regularly so that it works efficiently.
· Install ceiling insulation with a minimum rating that suits your locality to keep the heat out of your home and make your air-conditioner work more efficiently and cost less to run.
· Set your air-conditioner at 24°C. It’s the most comfortable and energy-efficient temperature setting for summer. Dropping a degree or two could turn up the heat on your power bill.
· Turn off your air-conditioner when you’re out. Leaving your air-conditioner on wastes energy and costs you more to run.
· Use a fan. It’s friendlier on your hip pocket than switching on your air-conditioner.
There are five simple tips to reduce your refrigeration costs.
· Ensure fridge seals are working efficiency
· Don’t place your fridge against a wall that’s exposed to direct sunlight. Similarly, keep a space between the fridge and the wall oven or stove.
· Defrost your freezer regularly. The frost build up should never exceed a thickness of 6mm. A fuller freezer prevents heavy icing.
· Think about what you want from the fridge before you open the door.
Turning off your second fridge if you no longer need it.
The energy survey looked at the average daily use of major electrical appliances.
In south-east Queensland, refrigeration and air-conditioning accounted for the largest proportion of electricity use with 46%. Hot water heating attributed for 18%, while entertainment and home office accounted for 13%.
For more information and energy saving tips visit www.energex.com.au.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Christmas Time is a great opportunity to remind shoppers about the pitfalls of buying presents online following a continued rise in complaints.
Online shopping has opened a new avenue for shoppers and in more recent times, it has become a particularly attractive shopping option due to the high Australian dollar.
Online shopping can be a good experience if shoppers are diligent and know what to look out for but could come with pitfalls for the unwary.
Sometimes goods online appear to be cheap when compared to goods in traditional stores, but when you add the cost of delivery the price may not be as attractive.
While it’s easy to compare the cost of ‘like with like’ online, for example a particular brand and model of an electrical item, it is much harder to compare more specialised items, such as furniture with some shoppers discovering the quality of such goods are not what they expected.
Some electrical items, such as DVD players, only work in the country for which they were made; others come with plugs for other country’s electricity supplies. While these can be made to work in Australia using converter plugs, the use of these may void some manufacturer’s warranties.
When purchasing items from overseas sites, shoppers need to remember that if something goes wrong it may be hard to enforce your rights and get your money back.
The trick is to make sure you do your research and ask about all of the conditions and terms of sale, including the refund policy of the on-line provider.
For more information on tips on purchasing online from within Australia or overseas, go to www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or to make a complaint about an online vendor, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Beware the risks posed by cheap Christmas lights
The Bligh Government is urging Queenslanders to resist the lure of cheap or second-hand Christmas lights because of the electrical dangers they can pose.
Cheap lights bought from markets, garage sales or the Internet could appear to be a bargain but they were not worth the risk.
With Christmas approaching, the Electrical Safety Office is reminding the public to play it safe by only buying lights approved for sale in Australia and using them strictly in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
People also need to be wary about buying lights over the Internet from other countries as they often have different electrical systems and safety standards that do not meet our requirements.
Look for an approval number – such as ‘Q041234’ – or the regulatory compliance mark logo which indicate compliance with Australian standards.
These marks must be on the lights and are usually found on a plastic tag near the plug or on the transformer if it is an extra-low-voltage type.
Queenslanders can further protect themselves by following the simple safety hints for buying, using and storing decorative lights available free on the Electrical Safety Office’s website at www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au or by calling 1300 650 662.
Conserve energy this Summer
A recent energy survey has found up to 46% of south-east Queenslander’s electricity use in Summer could be attributed to air-conditioning and refrigeration.
Many people may be surprised to learn that these two electrical appliances have such an impact on their electricity use over the warmer months.
Now is the time, during Summer, to use your energy sense and take control of your air-conditioning and refrigeration use.
Air-conditioners have become part of our lifestyles. 72% of south-east Queenslanders currently have air-conditioning installed and this figure is expected to jump considerably in the next five years.
By making small changes to your air-conditioning use this Summer, you won’t just save money on your electricity bill but you’ll also be reducing your carbon footprint.
There are six easy ways to slice the cost of your air-conditioning this summer
· Close windows and doors in areas you want to cool. Remember to close blinds and curtains too. It keeps the heat out of your home and makes your air-conditioner more efficient.
· Clean the filter pads on your air-conditioner regularly so that it works efficiently.
· Install ceiling insulation with a minimum rating that suits your locality to keep the heat out of your home and make your air-conditioner work more efficiently and cost less to run.
· Set your air-conditioner at 24°C. It’s the most comfortable and energy-efficient temperature setting for summer. Dropping a degree or two could turn up the heat on your power bill.
· Turn off your air-conditioner when you’re out. Leaving your air-conditioner on wastes energy and costs you more to run.
· Use a fan. It’s friendlier on your hip pocket than switching on your air-conditioner.
There are five simple tips to reduce your refrigeration costs.
· Ensure fridge seals are working efficiency
· Don’t place your fridge against a wall that’s exposed to direct sunlight. Similarly, keep a space between the fridge and the wall oven or stove.
· Defrost your freezer regularly. The frost build up should never exceed a thickness of 6mm. A fuller freezer prevents heavy icing.
· Think about what you want from the fridge before you open the door.
Turning off your second fridge if you no longer need it.
The energy survey looked at the average daily use of major electrical appliances.
In south-east Queensland, refrigeration and air-conditioning accounted for the largest proportion of electricity use with 46%. Hot water heating attributed for 18%, while entertainment and home office accounted for 13%.
For more information and energy saving tips visit www.energex.com.au.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Carolyn.
