Tips for improving the energy efficiency of your home
There are many simple and inexpensive things you can do around your home to reduce the electricity consumption of your household.
1. Switch off your computer and other appliances at night
Around 5-10% of electricity wastage in the home is due to computers and other appliances being left on when not in use. Some people believe that not turning their computer on and off will help maximise the life of their computer. Modern computers are not that fragile. If you are not using your computer, it's best to turn it off.
2. Seal gaps against draughts
Air moving through cracks and gaps can make you feel cold and could account for around 10% of your home's heat loss. Draught sealing can be simple and cheap and you can do it yourself by using door seals and door snakes, installing foam seals around windows, sealing up unused wall vents and replacing exhaust fans with a self-sealing type.
3. Check your ceiling insulation
Up to 40% of Australian homes are uninsulated or under-insulated. Ceiling insulation can keep your home up to 35% cooler in summer and 40% warmer in winter. Correctly installed insulation can make your house more comfortable so you can use less energy to stay warm or cool.
4. Don't heat or cool your whole house
Reduce your heating bills by only heating or cooling the rooms you are in, and dressing for the weather. If it's cold, put on a jumper before turning on the heater.
5. Check your water heater
In many homes the water heater is the second largest energy user so it's worth taking some time to ensure it is working efficiently. Check its temperature setting. Setting it too high wastes energy and if its too low bacteria can be a problem. Place your hand on the tank to see if is warm to the touch. If it is, it may be a candidate for an insulating blanket, especially if it is located in outside. Lagging (insulating) hot water pipes also reduces heat loss.
6. Check your fridge is working properly
Check that the fridge door seals are working properly and that the coils at the back of the fridge are well ventilated. Also ensure that you haven't set the temperature control too low, as it requires extra electricity to keep your fridge cool. If you're about to buy a new fridge, consider buying one with a five or six star energy-efficiency rating.
7. Use AAA-rated water efficient showerheads
Low-flow showerheads are available from as little as $20; you'll save that money on your water and electricity bills within a few months.
8. Replace your incandescent bulbs
Compact Fluorescent light bulbs can last several times longer than incandescent bulbs and use only 20-25% of the energy for the same light output. So over their lifetime they more than pay for the higher purchase price.
9. Save energy in the laundry
Wash your clothes in cold water; it cleans your clothes just as effectively. Make the most of Australia's sunny climate and dry your clothes outdoors using free solar energy. The sun is also one of the best antibacterial cleaner around.
10. Make a full load
Always fully load your washing machine, dishwasher and dryer. Half-load programs use less energy than the full-load normal program, but still use more than 50% of the energy required for a full load.
11. Install energy-efficient downlights
Many people wrongly think that low voltage downlights (sometimes known as dichroic or halogen spotlights) are environmentally friendly. They're not. The light generated by a downlight is quite focused, so a lot of them are required to light up larger rooms. A new, more energy-efficient 30W Infrared coated (IRC) lamp, which provides the same light as a 50W downlight, has a lifespan of around 5,000 hours. These downlights give off less heat than standard downlights, which means that switching can help keep your home cooler during summer.
12. Consider switching to a gas cooker
Gas gives you instant and complete control over your cooking temperature and it's for this reason that many people prefer gas cooking over electric. Using gas rather than coal-generated electricity for your cooking can reduce your greenhouse emissions for cooking by up to 65%.
13. Look at gas heating
Heating with natural gas is one of the most cost-effective ways of heating your home. Natural gas heating is also instant. Using gas rather than coal-generated electricity for heating can reduce your household's greenhouse emissions for heating by up to 80%.
14. Change to a gas hot water system
Electric water heating is the largest single producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the average Australian home according to the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). Figures from the AGO show that water heating accounts for 30 per cent of household greenhouse gas emissions (not including private car emissions).
15. Generate your own solar power
Installing a solar panel on your roof is great step towards becoming a carbon neutral household. A 1kW photovoltaic panel can generate up to 30% of your household's energy requirements.