Changes you can make on your house today to reduce energy consumption

Window coverings for energy savings

As simple as this may seem, up to 30% of unwanted heat in the summer comes from your widows. In winter, up to 40% of the heat in your home could be leaking out of your windows. 

Utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on bills and lower indoor temperatures in the summer by up to 20 degrees. In other words, closing the blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse in the summer and helps keep the heat in when your heater is on in the winter.

Keeping windows and doors closed through the day and erecting external window coverings such as awnings, roller shutters or shade sails would be the best measure to keep the heat out. If that isn’t possible, closing curtains will help. Although internal window coverings would block sunlight, they would not effectively block the heat.

Insulated window films, for example, are also a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds.

Provide your house with shade by planting trees

There are other things you can do to help cool your house in the long run. Planting trees or vines near light-facing windows will shield your house from the sun’s rays, blocking around 800 watts per square metre. Growing trees is also one of the most cost effective climate solutions available. 

Alternatively, you could paint your house white so that the walls reflect more heat, although it will need regular repainting. Of course, if a heatwave lasts for many days, even a well-shaded house with thick walls will heat up.

Install ceiling fans to save energy

The main mechanism our bodies have for cooling down is sweating. This works much more effectively if air is moving over our skin. You need ventilation to actually cool the body down. That is why a hot room feels much more comfortable with a fan.

A fan uses between one-25th and one-50th of the energy of a small reverse cycle air conditioner. You can run a fan as much as you like and you really won't affect your electricity bill too much.

Turn on the air conditioner early

If you have an air conditioner, try to use it only on really hot or humid days, and if you expect a hot day, pre-empt the heat rather than waiting until your home is already hot. (Similarly, start heating early when expecting a cold day.)

Look for programmable timer and thermostat controls. Set your air conditioner at the highest temperature setting at which you still feel cool enough; 25ºC is usually adequate. Each 1°C increase of the thermostat setting will save about 10% on your energy usage.

Insulating your roof to reduce energy consumption

For a long-term investment, roof insulation would act as a barrier to heat flow and significantly reduce the internal temperature of the house.

If you've got minimal bulk ceiling insulation, the heat is going to conduct through your ceiling and down into your house, making it hot. On a hot summer day, your ceiling cavity can get as hot as 70 degrees or more.

You can test this by touching your ceiling on a hot day and if it’s warm, you’ve got heat coming down from your roof cavity and you need more ceiling insulation.

Sealing drafts coming from window cavities, hinge doors, skirting boards and wall vents is another effective measure to block out the heat.

If you've got downlights and fans that aren't sealed properly from above, then once the hot air has built up in your ceiling it will come flowing through gaps and into the house.

How appliances can save energy

Unplug your appliances when not in use. Most household appliances have a ‘standby’ mode, which means they’re still using energy even when not in use. Standby power can account for more than 10% of your household electricity use.

The price tag doesn't tell the whole story when weighing up the cost of your new television, refrigerator or washing machine. If you take into account that all the appliances you have at home take up around 30% of your total energy bills, looking at running costs like a "second price tag" and choosing products accordingly will save you a considerable amount of energy and money over time.

Many appliances that have a less expensive purchase price may end up costing you more in energy costs over the lifetime of the product. Choose appliances and technologies that suit your needs and that use the lowest number of watts or megajoules. Avoid upgrading to bigger products or those with more features you may never use; this can lock you in to higher energy costs for years to come.

For eligible residents of NSW, the NSW Government is offering discounts on new energy efficient fridges and televisions. Check your eligibility here.

Turn off additional fridges and freezers when not needed and think about getting rid of these. Use lids on pots while cooking, fill the kettle and pots with only as much water as you need. Reduce pool filter running time to the safe minimum set out in the manual. Dry clothes on the line not in a dryer—it's free.

Green power

If you are serious about reducing the impact on climate, consider switching to Green Power. The average household emits around 14 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, half of which is from electricity generation. This contributes to climate change and global warming.

One simple and relatively cheap way that we can all start to make a difference is by switching our electricity to "green" power. This means using power generated from clean renewable sources such as the sun, wind, water and waste power, rather than coal.

Green power is available to all households and generally costs slightly more than standard electricity. What you'll pay depends on the percentage of Green Power and the retailer you choose. Use one that's accredited by the GreenPower program, an initiative of the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia Governments.

In Conclusion

Reducing your energy consumption is the best way to not only lower your electricity bills, but also lower your impact on the environment. By being smart and implementing some of the suggestions mentioned above - you can make a difference. If you are looking to build a house in the near future, make sure to read our take on how to reduce your energy consumption in the long term - by building a passive house.

Electricity prices have risen significantly year on year, to the point where it's the primary cost-of-living concern for Australians, with no real relief in sight.

With more and more people looking to reduce their environmental impact as well as reducing the cost of household bills, reducing energy consumption is a sound strategy. Let’s look at simple changes you can make around your house today to reduce your energy consumption and bills(!) in the long term.