The quick guide to saving energy in your home is a list of activities you can do in and around your home based on an estimated cost.
Use the information on cost and impact to help you choose which activities to do. Try to get the highest energy saving impact for your budget.
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No cost energy saving activities Energy saving activities for under $100 Energy saving activities for under $250 Energy saving activities for under $500 Energy saving investmentsNo cost energy saving activities
| Energy saving activity | Impact on energy consumption |
|---|
| Close doors to only heat or cool areas needed. | High impact |
| Set heating thermostats to the minimum you feel comfortable with - suggest 18°C - 21°C. | High impact |
| Set cooling thermostats to the maximum you feel comfortable with - suggest 24°C - 27°C. | High impact |
| Turn off additional fridges and freezers when not needed. | High impact |
| Reduce pool filter running time to its required minimum. | High impact |
| Open windows to allow night breezes to cool your home. | Medium impact |
| Wash clothes in cold water. | Medium impact |
| Only run the dishwasher when full. | Medium impact |
| Reduce shower time. | Medium impact |
| If you have a storage water heater, ask a plumber if having the tank's thermostat set closer to the minimum 60°C will provide any energy savings. Australian Standards set 60°C as the minimum temperature for storage water heaters, lower temperatures may allow harmful bacteria to grow. A tempering valve will lower the temperature of the hot water at the tap and can be installed by a plumber. | Medium impact |
| Locate fridges and freezers away from heat sources and ensure good ventilation around all sides. | Medium impact |
| Check your fridge temperature is between 3°C and 5°C. | Medium impact |
| Check your freezer temperature is between -15°C and -18°C. | Medium impact |
| Switch off lights when not needed. | Medium impact |
| Switch off appliances at the wall or power board when not in use rather than leaving them on standby. | Medium impact |
| Choose energy efficient appliances with low standby power use. | Medium impact |
| Dry clothes on a clothesline rather than use a dryer. | Medium impact |
| Clean external coils on the back of the fridge. | Low impact |
| Clean air conditioner filters. | Low impact |
| Choose the lowest wattage light bulb needed to provide satisfactory lighting | Low impact |
| Where possible use the microwave rather than the oven. | Low impact |
| Choose Energy Star computer equipment and activate power saving features. | Low impact |
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Energy saving activities for under $100
| Energy saving activity | Impact on energy consumption |
|---|
| Consider getting rid of additional fridges and freezers - these can be recycled. | High impact |
| Install three star rated shower heads and tap aerators. | Medium impact |
| Insulate hot water pipes with lagging to prevent heat loss | Medium impact |
| Replace fridge and freezer door seals if not insulating properly. | Medium impact |
| Replace oven door seal if not working effectively. | Medium impact |
| Replace old inefficient light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs. | Medium impact |
| Draught proof your home - seal gaps around doors and windows. | Medium impact |
| Fix leaking taps, especially hot water taps. | Medium impact |
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Energy saving activities for under $250
| Energy saving activity | Impact on energy consumption |
|---|
| When purchasing energy star rated appliances, consider a higher star rating over a lower star rating. Even if the purchase price of the appliance is slightly higher, it is likely this will be quickly repaid with lower ongoing running costs. | High impact |
| Replace halogen down lights with compact fluorescent downlights. | Medium impact |
| Install pelmets where curtains are used. | Medium impact |
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Energy saving activities for under $500
| Energy saving activity | Impact on energy consumption |
|---|
| Install doors to enable you to zone off the room you want to heat or cool from the rest of the house - eg sliding doors, bi-fold doors. | High impact |
| Consider installing a skylight to bring sunlight into areas where artificial lighting is frequently used. | Medium impact |
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Energy saving investments
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