Cooling & Heating

Making a few small changes to the way you use energy could make a difference to your next energy bill. Below are some ideas on how to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home.

Quick Tips
• Close the doors to unused rooms to reduce the area that you need to cool or heat.
• Turn off your cooling or heating overnight or when you're not home.
• Make sure you clean your air conditioner or cooler so that it doesn't use as much energy to run.
• Keep curtains and outside window shades closed to reduce the amount of energy required to maintain a consistent temperature inside your home.
• Use an electric blanket or hot water bottle rather than heating your bedroom.

Big Ideas

We've also put together a list of big changes that you can make around the home to reduce your energy consumption. These changes could take time but offer longer term solutions to reducing your energy usage.
• To avoid losing heat in your home, check that your ceiling, external walls and floors are sufficiently insulated.
• Choosing the right curtains and outside window coverings will create a consistent temperature inside your home and help reduce your power bills.
• Check that your ducts are properly sealed to increase the effectiveness of your heating and cooling systems.
• If renovating, consider double glazing on your windows to reduce the amount of heat lost.

Appliances

There are a number of things to consider when buying a new appliance or system for your home. We've put together a quick checklist to help you choose the most suitable energy efficient accessories for your home.
• Choose appliances with a high "star" energy rating as they are more efficient. The more stars an appliance has, the less energy it uses.
• Choose appliances or systems with a programmable timer and thermostat.
• Before buying new appliances, research and compare products online to see how energy efficient they are. You can compare product types and brands online through the government site www.energyrating.gov.au
• Some state government websites provide a summary of appliance running costs (per hour); this can help you select the most appropriate appliance for your needs.
• Make sure you buy an appliance that is suitable for your household size and won't use more energy than you need.
• When choosing an appliance, check that it is suitable for your local climate. Some appliances work more effectively depending on the climate.

Outside the home

Making a few small changes to the way you use energy could make a difference to your next energy bill. Below are some ideas on how to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home.

Quick Tips
• Use programmable timers and sensors to light outside areas.
• Consider using outdoor solar lights for your garden or outdoor areas.
• Have separate lights for different outside areas so that you can choose which areas to light.

Big Ideas

We've also put together a list of big changes that you can make around the home to reduce your energy consumption. These changes could take time but offer longer term solutions to reducing your energy usage.
• Always keep the temperature of your swimming pool below 27°C.
• Use a timer to operate the filter pump and reduce its running time. Your pool supplier should be able to advise you on what the optimal running time is for your pool pump.