Although many Australians are making efforts to reduce energy use at home, the amount of energy used by households across the country is increasing as more, and often larger, homes are built. The use of household appliances is also on the rise. No matter where you live, you can make considerable energy savings by living in homes that have been designed well and include energy-efficient appliances and features. Good design can reduce the need for expensive heating and cooling without reducing comfort.
You can think about and improve the energy efficiency of your home if you are building or renovating, buying or selling or renting. The decisions you make now will affect your lifestyle and your energy costs for many years to come.
What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency simply means using less energy to provide the same service or achieve the same result. It’s about doing things smarter, or with improved technology, with absolutely no drop in service or your level of comfort. You use less energy as well as save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
Saving energy at home
Even if the building you live in is very energy efficient, the way you live inside your home will have a big impact on your energy use and costs. Think about how you use energy and act sensibly to reduce wastage where you can. Even making some simple and easy changes can mean real energy and cost savings without reducing comfort.
Our information pages and action guides have dozens of ideas on how to save energy at home through efficient Heating and cooling, Insulation, Lighting and using Energy-efficient appliances.
Building or renovating
Making changes to your home or building a new one is a great opportunity to think about how to improve the design and efficiency of your home. Our guide to Building and renovating for energy efficiency has information and tips to help you save money and to make your home more comfortable with less impact on the environment.
Buying a home
Buying a home can be very exciting but it can also be complex with a whole range of issues to consider. By choosing a home that is energy efficient and well-designed, you can make considerable savings on your energy costs for many years as well as improve your lifestyle and comfort.
Choose a home or block of land that is close to facilities you need and close to public transport. This will minimise your fuel costs and your travel time.
Make a list of design or energy efficient features that are important to you. Look for these when you are searching for a new home.
Consider the climate you live in and whether your potential home is suited to its environment.
Selling
If your home is designed well and is energy efficient, this will add to its value and its appeal to potential buyers. As buyers become more and more environmentally aware, these features directly increase the marketability of your home.
When selling your home, draw attention to any ‘green’ features. Make sure your real estate agent is also aware of these features and includes this information in advertising material.
If you have a renewable energy system, you could prepare a summary or graph which shows how much you are saving on usual energy costs.
Have an energy efficiency rating done on your home prior to selling and include this rating in advertising. Obtaining and notifying an energy efficiency rating (EER) is compulsory in the ACT and must form part of the contract for sale. Check your telephone directory or internet for accredited energy assessors or businesses which carry out energy efficiency ratings.
Renting
If you rent a property, you may feel you are powerless to make substantial energy-saving changes to the home you live in. But there are a number of actions you can take.
Think about your lifestyle when you are looking for a rental property. Choose a location that is near to your work any facilities you need: or is close to public transport. Choose a location that will allow for short, easy travel to all the places you frequent.
Consider sharing with other people to save money and resources.
Talk to your landlord about making changes to your property - including insulation, water heating or lighting. These changes will save energy costs and will also improve the capital value of the property, creating a win-win situation.
Research rebates and assistance available to landlords. Let them know about assistance and how much they can save.
Remember that your behaviour can make an enormous difference to the amount of energy you use or waste in your home. Don’t rely on capital improvements to make living in rental properties more sustainable.
Even making some simple and easy changes to the way you live can have a big impact, without reducing comfort.
Home assessment
A home sustainability assessment can help you to identify where you can make the biggest savings in your home including how you can save money, save water and save energy. Home assessments will help you to identify ways you can reduce your impact on the environment. After your home assessment, you should receive a tailored report outlining the actions you can take and what your expected savings could be.
