Compared with 6-star residences, the energy used for heating and cooling in 7-star residences is reduced by 18-28%, which can save you $900 per year. [1]
Energy efficiency is a key part of the climate action puzzle and can help us reduce electricity consumption.
The Climate Commission is advocating for governments at all levels to improve policies and invest in new and existing houses to improve energy efficiency.
There are many things individuals can do to reduce their home's energy needs. If you start from scratch, you can even make your home energy positive-this means that your humble residence generates more energy than it consumes!
Before you get the toolbox, for safety reasons, remember to seek professional help for anything beyond your skill level! This is not just dangerous—it is illegal to repair, modify, and upgrade electrical and natural gas systems nationwide without proper qualifications.
It may be difficult for renters to justify investing in energy efficiency upgrades for their houses, but there are many cheap or free ways to reduce emissions and reduce bills:
To keep your space at a comfortable temperature, periodically evaluate the quick actions you can take on your own, such as:
Household appliances account for about 30% of household energy use: [2]
Replace the old halogen lamps with LED lamps. The energy used by LEDs can be reduced by up to 80% and the service life can be extended by 10 times (don't forget to make full use of natural light!) [5] New South Wales, Victoria and the Capital Territory all provide incentives to switch to LED lights.
If possible, set the washing machine to wash in cold water, which can reduce energy consumption by 80% compared to hot water. [6]
Windproof your home: Check for gaps in your doors and windows, and use door snakes to prevent air circulation. If you can't feel the air flow but want to check it, wait for a windy day and light a candle-the flickering of the flame indicates the air flow.
In summer, use shade cloth or bamboo blinds to escape the heat. Carpets and curtains can be used to keep heat in winter. Sticking a bubble film on the window will also help relieve the cold in winter! These less secret weapons can save you up to 25% of energy costs. [7]
Set cooling between 25°C and 27°C in summer, and set heating between 18°C and 20°C in winter. Each additional degree of heating or cooling increases energy usage by 5% to 10%. [8] Running a heat pump at 26°C will use 50% more power than using it at 21°C. [9]
The federal government provides financial incentives for the installation of renewable energy systems through the Small Renewable Energy Program. In addition, depending on where you live, you can also purchase free or discounted energy efficiency upgrades, solar panels and batteries, and energy assessment plans. These audits will help you find the best value for money when upgrading your house. Your local city council may also have resources available.
If you feel overwhelmed, check out the state government energy page below! [2]
Designed to keep your house well above the minimum energy efficiency standards. The minimum standard for houses built today is 6 stars under the NatHERS rating system. Even if you upgrade to a 7-star residence, the energy used for heating and cooling will be reduced by 18-28%, and you can save $900 per year. [14] Residential buildings with higher stars will use more energy efficiency upgrades, such as double-glazed windows, comprehensive insulation and high-efficiency electrical appliances, all of which are cheaper to install at the time of construction than in later retrofits.
Make sure your architect or designer is experienced in energy-efficient housing. Efficient houses use landscape, site characteristics, orientation, materials, thermal mass, and natural light and heating and cooling sources. In short, these features can minimize or eliminate the need for additional heating and cooling, reducing your energy consumption by 40%! [15] The Passive House model developed in Germany is a popular method.
Check out the free home design templates in Design For Place here. These blueprints cover a series of energy-efficient (at least 7-star NatHERS ratings) homes with correct passive design, materials, insulation, orientation, windows and shading methods based on Australia’s eight climate zones.
It is a good idea to build your home EV function or better EV-ready (learn the difference here). Of course, the purpose of the game is to charge your car with renewable energy. Check out WWF as a starting point for more information.
Add solar photovoltaic and storage devices to your energy-efficient home to reduce bills! Compared with houses that use dual fuel (natural gas and electricity) and do not have solar energy, a new, all-electric house powered by solar energy can save owners between 9,000 and 18,000 dollars in ten years. [16] As mentioned earlier, solar panels, solar water heating systems, air-source heat pumps, and other small-scale renewable energy systems are discounted by the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Program (SERS), and some states and territories have additional discounts. Subsidies and interest-free loans.
Regardless of your situation, you can take various measures to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Check out these resources for more tips and ideas:
To support the Climate Commission’s energy efficiency measures campaign, please donate here.
[1] Update, 2020. Now is the best time to raise Australia's new residential energy standards. [Online] Available at: https://renew.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NCC-joint-community-statement.pdf
[2] Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Australian Government, 2021. Family-renters. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/life-stages-advice/renters [access 10 2021]
[3] Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, 2021. Family-renters. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/life-stages-advice/renters [access 10 2021]
[4] Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, 2021. Family-renters. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/life-stages-advice/renters [access 10 2021]
[5] Commonwealth of Australia, 2021. illumination. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov.au/households/lighting [access 10 2021].
[6] Climate Committee, 2020. Home Energy Efficiency Tips by Jamie Durie [Online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSwZK7tQQQQ [Visit 10 2021]
[7] Family Truth, 2019. Lessor’s Energy Efficiency Guide [Online]. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bxRwtvajWYVJwfIXUp30Icwsj4Y0VaLP/view [access time: October 2021].
[8] Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, 2021. Family-renters. [online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov.au/households/household-guides/life-stages-advice/renters [access 10 2021]
[9] Ecological Design Consultant, 2019. Heat pumps-how to run them efficiently [online]. Available at: https://www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz/resources/heat-pumps-run-effectively/ [Access 10 2021]
[10]Refresh Renovations, 2021. How much does it cost to insulate a house in Australia? [online]. Available at: https://www.refreshrenovations.com.au/project-estimates/ceiling-and-floor-insulation-cost-estimate/ [Access 10 2021]
[11]Service.com.au, 2020. What is the cost of insulation? The 2020 Cost Guide [Online]. Available at: https://www.service.com.au/articles/heating-cooling/how-much-does-insulation-cost [Access 10 2021]
[12] Evo Building Products, 2021. How to improve your home insulation [online] in 4 ways. Available at: https://evobuild.com.au/how-to-improve-your-home-insulation-in-4-ways/ [access 10 2021].
[13] Red Energy, 2021. The complete guide to double-glazed windows [online]. Available at: https://www.redenergy.com.au/living-energy/smart-homes/a-complete-guide-to-double-glazed-windows [access 10 2021]
[14] Update, 2020. Now is the best time to raise Australia's new residential energy standards. [Online] Available at: https://renew.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NCC-joint-community-statement.pdf
[15] Government of Australia, 2021. Passive design [online]. Available at: https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design [accessed on October 10, 2021]. [16] Alternative Technology Association, 2018. Household Fuel Selection in the National Energy Market [Online]. Northcote: Update. Available at: https://renew.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Household_fuel_choice_in_the_NEM_Revised_June_2018.pdf [Access 10 2021]
You can unsubscribe at any time. For more detailed information on how we collect, store and use your information, please read our privacy policy.
Oh no, something happened! please try again.
Thank you for joining! We will send you reminders to take action on important events and give you access to our latest research reports, which are just obtained from the media.
All donations to the Climate Committee that exceed $2 are tax-deductible, and a receipt will be emailed to you. Registered Charity Number: ACN 165 914 303