10 Tips for Energy Efficiency at Home

The National Trust recently engaged a specialist energy auditor to perform an energy audit at Mooramong Homestead in Skipton through Sustainability Victoria’s Community Climate Change and Energy Action Program. The audit involved an assessment of all buildings and electrical appliances and an analysis of power and water use to identify opportunities to reduce energy use, emissions and operational costs. Transferable recommendations are now being explored for application at other NTV sites as part of the delivery of our inaugural Climate Action Plan.   

 While participating in the energy audit, we learnt that many of the energy efficiency upgrades could easily be done with a DIY approach. With that in mind, we wanted to share our top ten DIY tips for making your home more energy efficient: 

1. Turn off appliances when they are not in use. Often underestimated, this basic measure can noticeably reduce your power consumption. Appliances like a television are drawing power while on ‘standby’, simply turn it off at the wall when not in use. Consider turning your hot water service off next time you go on holidays, to save it heating water and drawing power while you are not home. 
2. Draught-proof door and window frames. Feel a breeze coming from somewhere? Maybe your door or window frames are not sealed, and are letting the outside air in. Your home can lose or gain 25% of heat through draughts. Consider sealing your door and window frames with adhesive rubber strips. 
3. Install window furnishings. Glass windows allow winter warmth to escape and summer heat to come into your home. Window furnishings such as thermally lined curtains, drapes and pelmets, roman blinds or honeycomb/cellular blinds, that are close fitting, can greatly reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. 
4. Upgrade to LED lighting. Are you still running non-LED light globes? Did you know there are LED globes now available that draw a 10th of the power of your non-LED globes whilst still providing the same level of brightness? Pop into your local hardware store and purchase some LED globes and replace those energy hungry old globes today. 
5. Upgrade your appliances. When replacing an appliance in your home, purchase an appliance that best suits your needs and has a favourable energy efficiency rating too.  
6. Review your energy provider. Shop around to obtain better electricity pricing or ask current provider to match a competitors pricing identified via Victorian Energy Compare website. 
7. Fix water leaks. Got a dripping tap or toilet that keeps running? Save water by replacing the seal and stopping the leak. 
8. Install a water-saving showerhead. Purchase a water-saving showerhead from your local hardware store and install it to reduce your water consumption. 
9. Consider solar power. Solar panels for your home are an easily accessible renewable energy source that will reduce your energy costs and emissions too. 
10. Dry washing on the line. Do you really need to pop that washing in the clothes dryer? Or, could you hang it on the clothes line for some sunshine and fresh air to do the drying for you? Small choices today can make big impacts for tomorrow. Choose to line dry. 

Remember, reducing your energy consumption is not just about reducing your power costs, it is also about reducing your emissions. Happy energy & water saving!