10 ways to turn your house into an energy efficient home
From apps on your phone to appliances in your kitchen, here’s how you can reduce your energy usage.
At Arconex, we’re always looking for the latest ways to both reduce the environmental impact your power usage has and saving you money while we’re at it. From solar panels to electric cars, LED lighting to smart-home technology, we’re incredibly passionate about green energy projects.
We’re often asked by our customers how they can make their homes greener, so we’re sharing 10 surefire ways to make your home more energy efficient.
1. Change your light bulbs.
Did you know that LED lights use up to 75% less energy than halogen or incandescent light bulbs? They also last five to 10 times longer. So, you’re not only saving on energy costs, but sending fewer dead bulbs to landfills and potentially saving on the price of more-frequent purchases, too.
Not sure what lights you have or what types will work in your fixtures? We can help! Get in touch for an energy-efficient lighting assessment.
2. Turn off the lights.
Not at night, of course. We’re not suggesting you live by candlelight! But, if opening the blinds will light up the room enough, then keep the lights off during daylight hours.
3. Turn on a fan and turn off the air con.
As long as you’re not battling humidity (which luckily in Sydney we don’t get too much of), swapping your air-con usage for a fan can save you loads on your energy bills.
Running a fan can cost as little as two cents per hour, while an air conditioner can cost anywhere from 25 cents to $3 per hour, depending on the size of your home.
Sure, when we’re talking about cents it doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s anywhere from 10x to 150x the cost!
4. And put on the layers before putting on the heater.
During the cooler months, aim to be comfortable inside wearing a jumper rather than wearing a t-shirt. Adding an extra layer could mean you won’t even need to turn on your heaters, or you can keep them at a cooler temperature to save on energy.
5. Get a smart thermostat (if you really do need that air con and heating)
There’s an app for everything these days, and you can even connect your home’s heating and cooling to one to control remotely.
Whether you want to turn on the air conditioning when you’re on your way home from work so things are comfortable when you arrive, or remembered an hour into your week-long road trip that you’ve left the heating on, these apps let you control your thermostat from just about anywhere.
Other smart thermostat systems let you control temperature room by room. There’s a few ways you can optimise your bills with this technology:
If someone you live with is travelling, you can turn off heating/cooling to their room
If you like to sleep in a cool bedroom, but your kids like it warm, you can adjust the temperatures to suit everyone
6. Choose the right appliances
We’re certainly not suggesting you throw out your microwave or get rid of your washing machine altogether. But if they do need replacing, be mindful of more than just the upfront price.
Energy efficient white goods may come with a slightly higher upfront cost than a cheap appliance, but if it’s something that will be running all the time (like a fridge), the running cost could more than make up for the price difference down the line.
For example, Canstar researched the cost of running fridges with different Energy Rating labels and the cost of running the most to least efficient fridge does add up over the years.
If you have a 500-600 litre fridge (which is suitable for most families), you’ll pay about $184Í per year for one with a 2-2.5-star rating and just $107 per year for one with a 5-5.5-star rating.
7. And, choose the right sized appliance
If you’re a single person, you’ll likely be fine with a smaller fridge or washing machine compared to if you’re in a share-house or part of a multi-generational family living together.
According to Canstar, a 300-400 litre fridge costs about $117 per year to run in Sydney, while a 500-600 litre fridge costs about $157. Why pay $40 more to have empty space in your fridge?
Need someone to help install your new appliances? We can help with cooktops, ovens, rangehoods and just about any other appliance you’re hoping to install.
8. Invest in solar panels.
It may take some time, but this is an investment that will certainly pay off.
Solar panels are becoming more and more affordable, and consumer advocate group CHOICE notes that it will take about 4-5 years for your system to pay for itself, depending on how much energy you’re exporting back to the grid.
If you’re in your forever home, or one that you’re planning on living in for years to come, it could be well worth installing solar panels. You’ll save both on energy costs and the environmental impact that non-renewable energy sources can have.
Considering solar? We can help! Read our guide on what’s involved with solar panel installation at your home or workplace.
9. While you’re at it… Use solar lights outside.
If you want to illuminate your garden or just add a bit of light to your outdoor seating area, use solar-powered ones.
Whether you’re after strings of fairy lights, stake lights that sit amongst your plants or wall-mounted ones, you’ll be able to find them at affordable prices at most retailers like Bunnings or Mitre 10.
10. Make use of smart technology and smart apps
Did you know there’s mobile apps that let you monitor your energy, gas and water usage?
Technology like Smappee Infinity, which Arconex can help you install, can be integrated with your existing metres to help you track your consumption in real time. Seeing which appliances are using up a lot of energy, and at what times of the day, can help you determine where you need to cut back or change your habits.
For example, the app can help you understand just how much money you can save by running a washing machine or charging your EV during off-peak hours.
