Energy is connected to nearly every aspect of daily life in Australia. But the energy sources we rely on most - like coal, oil and natural gas - are being used up and can’t be replaced for millions of years. Producing energy from these sources also releases harmful greenhouse gases which impact our environment.
There are many actions you can take to use renewable energy sources instead and to be more energy efficient at home. Being more energy efficient will cut your energy costs and help protect valuable energy resources for the future.
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Energy rating labelsThe electricity and gas we produce and use to run household appliances increases our greenhouse gas emissions which are harmful to our environment. By choosing energy-efficient appliances, you can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on energy bills.
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Energy-efficient appliancesAppliances can account for up to 30 per cent of your home energy use. As our reliance on electrical appliances increases and energy prices also go up, selecting energy-efficient products becomes more important.
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Power pricesElectricity and gas costs form a large part of household bills. You may feel you don’t have much control over these costs, but you have the power to reduce your bills. Individual behaviour and the choices we make have a bigger impact on our bills than most of us think.
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Renewable energyRenewable energy systems use sources like solar, wind and hydro (water) to generate power. The most common renewable energy systems used for Australian homes are solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines.
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Energy efficiency in the homeEnergy-efficient home design, features, appliances and habits all contribute to making your household cheaper to run without sacrificing comfort. Whether renting, buying, selling, building or renovating, there are lots of things you can do.
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Heating and coolingMost Australian homes need heating or cooling at some time of the year. In some areas this accounts for up to 40 per cent of total household energy use. There are many ways you can make your home cheaper to run and remain comfortable all year round.
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InsulationInsulation acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain, particularly in ceilings, walls and floors. It helps to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
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LightingIn recent years energy use for household lighting in Australia has rapidly increased. Most households can reduce the amount of energy they use for lighting by making smarter lighting choices and moving to more efficient technologies.
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Hot water systemsReducing the amount of hot water you use and using a more efficient hot water system are great ways to reduce your energy costs and your impact on the environment.
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Solar hot water systemsSolar hot water systems take advantage of Australia’s supply of sunshine and use solar energy to heat water for household use.
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Gas hot water systemsGas hot water systems use either mains gas (natural gas or reticulated gas) if it is available or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) from cylinders.
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Heat pump hot water systemsElectric heat pumps are an efficient type of storage water heater that extracts heat from the environment to heat water.
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Building and renovating for energy efficiencyOften the best time to think about ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home is when you’re building a new home or renovating.
