Our Action guides offer suggestions and tips for ways to save energy & costs, conserve water, reduce waste and travel smarter.
Each of the actions is rated three ways:
- Ease
- Impact
- Savings
Ease
How easy is it to take the action.
Least easy
Easy
Very easy
The rating is based on an assessment of the:
- effort or knowledge required to undertake the action
- planning required to undertake the action
- cost involved in undertaking the action
Impact
What impact taking the action have on the environment.
Some impact
More impact
Most impact
The rating is based on estimations for the:
- reduction in consumption from the action
- greenhouse gas reduction resulting from the action
Savings
What financial savings will result from taking the action.
Some savings - less than $100 per year
More savings - up to $500 per year
Most savings - more than $500 per year
The rating is based on estimations for the:
- payback period or return on investment by taking the action
- average annual savings likely to result from taking the action
Payback period
In an energy and water efficiency context, the payback period is the time it takes to recover the initial cost of changing to more efficient appliances. This changeover cost is recovered through the ongoing savings from reduced water and energy consumption.
The payback period for a more energy-efficient or water-efficient appliance can be calculated by comparing the initial cost difference with the ongoing savings in expenditure on power or water.
Initial cost difference (dollars) = cost of more efficient appliance - cost of less efficient appliance
Payback period (years) = initial cost difference (dollars) / annual energy or water cost savings (dollars)
The star rating labels for appliances are designed allow their energy and water consumption to be compared. The labels include estimates of typical annual consumption of energy and water.
Calculation example
A more efficient washing machine may cost $800 compared to a less efficient washing machine costing $500.
The more efficient washing machine may cost $100 less each year in electricity and water costs.
Payback period = 3 years ($300 / $100)
The payback period is well within the expected life of the washing machine so purchasing the more efficient version makes sound economic sense.
Any future increase in power or water costs will reduce the payback period.
