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Solar Power

How to improve energy efficiency in your home

woman changing the temperature on her heating system

RACV

July 20, 2023

Energy bills are top of mind for Australian households. Here’s how to make simple lifestyle changes and home investments to improve your energy efficiency and transition to a cleaner energy future.

Factors like the weather, the number of people living in your home, and your living habits all affect your energy bills. Some things are outside your control, but there are small changes you can make to improve energy efficiency in your home.

“The great news is that you can make a big difference to your energy usage and efficiency in the home without spending a cent,” explains RACV Executive General Manager - Home and Energy Nicole Brasz.

“Heating and cooling accounts for 40 per cent of energy consumption in the home. In addition to doing simple things like closing the curtains and sealing up draughts for example, you can also think about reducing the temperature of your heating and cooling by one degree, which can make a difference.”

Learn how to make your home more energy efficient.

In winter, it can be all too tempting to crank the heater an extra degree, while the reverse applies during the warmer months where some households run air conditioning systems too cold. Thankfully, there are ways to stay warm without dialling up the thermostat, while properly insulated homes can halve their power bills compared to homes without insulation.

More households are also choosing to replace inefficient halogen lightbulbs with LED lighting, while others are making informed decisions around energy-efficient home appliances by taking into account energy ratings. Even aspiring MasterChefs are switching from traditional gas cooktops to induction cooktops.

Households are also embracing rooftop solar and batteries in greater numbers. In fact, Australia now has the highest per-capita uptake of residential rooftop solar power in the world, with more than 1 in 4 Australian houses now experiencing the benefits of renewable solar power to run everything from heating and cooling to electric vehicles.

“While some of these investments in energy efficiency do require an upfront cost, there are options available to reduce help reduce those costs,” Brasz says. “In Victoria for example, you can get rebates to help you with solar and your battery, and upgrade your hot water system. You can also access green loans to help finance these initiatives.”