By living a sustainable lifestyle, you’ll not only feel great and save money, you’ll be contributing to a cleaner, greener future for our planet. At EnviroShop, we’re here to support you.
Energy – One giant step for mankind and 11 simple tips
1. Install Solar power or solar hot water
This is the best single action you can take. By adding solar power or solar hot water to your home, you are not only adding to the value of your property you will join tens of thousands of Australians who are benefiting from the sun and from the shading it gives you in summer. Solar power investments normally pay for themselves within 8 years and solar hot water within 3 years. This is a big step for you and a giant step towards contributing to a cleaner, greener future so EnviroShop are here to guide you through the process.
On average hot water accounts for 25% of household energy use, or the equivalent of up to 2 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Be sure to wash in cold water where possible and dry your clothes outside (they’ll keep their shape and last longer too).
2. Switch to Accredited GreenPower
This will reduce your household carbon emissions by up to 70%. When you purchase accredited GreenPower, your energy supplier buys power from sustainable sources such as wind and solar, directly reducing Australia’s greenhouse pollution.
3. Adjust your thermostat
Each degree of extra heating in winter or cooling in summer will increase energy consumption by about 5 to 10 per cent. Set the temperature to:
18 – 21 degrees in winter
25 – 27 degrees in summer
4. Seal Drafts
The drafts in your house can add up to a hole the size of a basketball in your wall and can account for up to 30% of a home’s heat loss and gain. If the gaps under and around your doors, windows and skirting boards aren’t already sealed, or if your ceiling fans don’t have a Draftstoppa on them, your home’s thermal efficiency is badly compromised you’re certainly spending too much on heating and cooling. The best way to deal with this is to draft seal - Draft excluders are cheap and efficient.
5. Appliances - Look for the stars
Defrost your fridge regularly and ensure it is not close to heat sources. Your fridge is the highest consuming appliance in your home, so if you have a second fridge that continually on, consider whether you really need it or switching it off when not in use. (Ice in the laundry tub is great for parties).
Cooking can account for 8% of your energy use, so only use the oven when you’re cooking several dishes at once.
If you are thinking about buying new appliances, look for the stars – the more stars they have the more energy or water efficient. Go to http://www.energyrating.gov.au for more info.
6. Turn off stand by power
Five million tonnes of greenhouse gas are generated every year by this wasted electricity and stand by power can account for between 10-20% of your energy bills. (Standby current is the energy your appliances are consuming even when they’re not being used). Future switches, Eco Switches and automated master/slave powerboards are simple answers to this problem.
7. Switch to Energy Efficient Lighting
Switching to energy efficient lighting is the easiest way to reduce power consumption. If you don’t have energy efficient globes you’re definitely paying too much on your energy bills. You’ll experience the benefits of efficient lighting instantly and any investment you make on it will generally pay itself off very quickly. Replace incandescent and halogen lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diode (LED) products.
To save money, replace the old lights as they burn out – this will also reduce the embodied energy as you’re not getting the new lights all at once. Or try reducing the number of lights – eg: take one tube out of each twin fluorescent fitting.
8. Insulate
Consider insulation as a non-negotiable. Not having insulation is like not having a roof over your head. Cooling and heating is grossly ineffective and expensive without insulation. Besides, an insulated house is a comfortable house. Check your insulation and ensure it has a high ‘R’ rating.
9. Manage the sun’s impact on your home
Simple things like shading north facing windows in summer to reduce solar heat gain from the sun will make a big difference to how cool your house is and how much energy you require for cooling. In winter, by allowing as much sunlight in through those northern windows you will be warming your house for free and therefore will require less from mechanical heating sources.
10. Heating
When buying a new heater consider the areas you need to heat and the efficiency of the options. If you only really need to heat one or two rooms, a space heater in each room is a sensible option whereas central heating is complete overkill. Gas is a far more efficient means of heating - go for a highly efficient gas heater with a thermostat.
11. Cooling
Use eaves and vegetation to shade windows and walls and orient living spaces to incorporate solar passive design. See http://www.yourhome.gov.au/
Ceiling fans an inexpensive and use minimal energy. If you must have an air conditioner either a split system air conditioner or an evaporative cooler are the best options. Seek expert advice on cooling and be sure to enquire about the energy efficiency of all options.
