LIGHTING
Replace traditional light bulbs with energy saving globes which use 75% less energy and save $9 each per year
Turn off lights when not in the room and use sensors for outside lights
Replace energy hungry halogen down-lights with energy efficient LED or CFL down-lights
Install skylights to let natural light brighten up dark areas of your house
HEATING and COOLING
Reducing your thermostat by 1⁰C in winter and increasing it by 1⁰C in summer will cut your energy bill by 10%
Hang heavy lined curtains down to the floor on windows to reduce heat loss in winter and block sun in summer
Install box pelmets on top of curtains to stop heat circulating behind the curtains
Seal up all gaps and draughts from doors and windows using easy to install draught excluders
Install insulation in the ceiling and walls – if your insulation is older than 15 years, it may need replaced
Close up ventilation outlets or chimneys when not in use
Ceiling fans circulate air in summer and can push down hot air in winter when reversed
External window shading is twice as effective as internal cover. Removable cover will allow in winter sun.
APPLIANCES
Turn off all appliances at the power point. Standby power generates 10% energy and can cost up to $200 a year
Set your home computer to “sleep” mode and again turn off at the power point when not in use for a long period
LCD computer screens use less power than traditional screens. Turning the brightness down can save 25%
The bigger the TV the more power it uses. LCD screens use less power than Plasmas and traditional CRTs
Buy appliances that have an Energy Label rating of at least 4 stars. The more stars the less energy they use.
KITCHEN
Ensure your fridge seals are effective. Old fridge seals are easy and cheap to replace
Set your fridge at no less than 3⁰C to 5⁰C and set your freezer at no less than -18⁰C to – 15⁰C
Only run the dishwasher when it has a full load and use the “economy” setting as much as possible
Using gas for cooking is generally cheaper and less damaging to the environment than electricity
Fill the kettle with only the water that you intend to use
Don’t place hot items in the fridge – this makes your fridge work harder and uses energy
Install tap aerators to reduce water flow. These are inexpensive and available from most hardware stores
Fix leaking taps. A dripping tap can produce enough water in one year to fill a small swimming pool
Get rid of your second “beer fridge”. This could save you up to $150 (3 cartons of beer) a year
BATHROOM & TOILET
Traditional showerheads use 15 litres per minute. Water efficient shower heads use 7 to 9 litres per minute
Save water by ensuring all family members limit their showers to no more than 5 minutes each
Don’t leave the bathroom tap running while you are brushing your teeth
Use cold water as much as possible when washing your hands
If your toilet has dual flush – use the half flush as much as possible
LAUNDRY
Ensure you set your washing machine to “cold wash”. This will use 30% less energy than “hot wash”
Always ensure you wash a full load of clothes to reduce the amount of times the washing machine is used
Minimise the use of your electric dryer by drying clothes naturally
OTHER
Compost your food scraps and re-cycle plastics, bottles and cans. Use rechargeable batteries.
Donate unwanted goods to charity opportunity shops to reduce the environmental impact of land fill
Install rainwater tanks to reduce your mains water usage. Rebates available if linked to a laundry or toilet.
Reduce the amount of plastic contained in children’s lunches.
Take your own bag to the shops as much as possible to reduce your use of plastic bags.
Reduce your use of disposable cups by taking your own ceramic mug to the coffee shop.
