Improving Household
Energy Efficiency
Save Energy, Save Money
Household power use (average)
 Why focus on electricity?
 How much energy?
 What you can do about –
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Space heating and cooling
Hot water
Refrigeration
Appliance
Lighting
Cooking
What we will be talking
about
Household power use
Number of people in the
home
Electricity (kWh per
year)
One
4,900 - 6,600
Two
6,600 - 8,800
Three
7,600 - 10,100
Four
8,700 - 11,200
Five
12,200 - 16,300
Six or more
11,600 - 15,500
Average
6,500 - 8,700
Electricity Usage (Assume all
electric house)
Households consumer greater than 50%
of their energy in the form of electricity
(the next closest is natural gas - 33%).
 Electricity costs here in Aus have gone up
anywhere between 60% and 80% in the
last 5 years
 Like water through a sieve, electricity can
leak out of your household, costing you
money for no real benefit.
 Each kWhr of electricity generates 0.99kg
Co2 (in NSW)
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Why Focus on Electricity?
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That which you don’t measure, you don’t
control – Edwards Demming
Conduct an energy audit
Multifunction Power Meter
MS 6115
Elite Classic remote power
meter from Efergy
IR Thermometer
How Much Energy?
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Insulate, insulate, insulate!
Roof insulation
Wall insulation
Under floor insulation for houses on piers
Treat windows (see next slide)
Swamp cooler
Wearable blanket (dress warmly)
Solar heating – sun lizard
Passive solar heating
Wood heater
Space Heating & Cooling
Double glazing – plastic sheet, plastic film, extra
glass, replace (uPVC be careful)
 Curtain with pelmet
 Shutters
 Bubble wrap
 Styrofoam sheet
 Shade cloth
 Gift wrap
 Window quilt
 Outside blinds
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Windows
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Solar hot water with gas boost
For small jobs – solar heat in container
then transfer to an vacuum flask (airpot)
Timed showers/ smart shower head
Wash hands & clothes in cold water
Turn thermostat down (60°C for storage
heater 50°C for instantaneous)
Turn thermostat down or off
if going away (check manual)
Full dishwasher only
Hot water
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Evaporation – Coolgardie safe and pot-inpot cooler
Freeze ice bricks and place in the top of
fridge.
Go vegan and turn it off!
Fill up the freezer, empty the fridge
Build your own – heavily insulated
Refrigeration
Turn off appliances at the wall (phantom
loads)
 Buy energy efficient appliances (read the
label) – LED TV rather than plasma
 Consider substituting hand tools/
appliances
 Solar torches, radio, phone charger etc
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Appliances
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Turn off all lights when leaving a room
Replace incandescent & halogen with
fluorescent bulbs
Efficient spot lighting
Solar lighting (Sunnan)
Romantic candle light
Waste veg oil lamp
Lighting
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Rocket stove
Stored heat cooker (haybox & vacuum)
Wok
Pressure cooker
Lid-on/hot water cooking(Pasta/rice)
Behaviour – fill up oven; size burner to
the pot, turn down after boiling, one-pot
meals)
Solar cookers
Cooking
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Seek to learn (audit)
Develop a plan
Change behaviour first (costs nothing)
Go for the big wins (eg solar hot water)
Set yourself some projects
Involve the family
Have some fun!
Where to from here?
For more details check our website