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Reducing Your Energy Costs Ever wonder why your monthly energy bill is higher than you think it should be? In many cases it may be because the energy you purchase is not being used as efficiently as it could be. You can find this out by doing a walk-through energy audit of your home. In most cases, you will find at least several things you can do to reduce your energy bill and make your home more energy efficient. Some of the ‘Possible Actions” you can do yourself. Others may need a contractor.

A quick overview (tick any/all relevant boxes) Water Heating, Shower, and Baths

Electric storage Gas storage Solar

The type of water heater do you have?

5-star gas or electric heat pump

65ºC or more 62ºC Your hot water heater temperature setting? 60ºC

15 litres per minute or more 12 litres per minute Your shower’s hot water flow rate? 9 litres per minute or less

Long showers and deep baths Showers only or shallow bath How long do you shower and bathe? Short showers (3 min or less)

None Some

Do you have lagging (insulation) on your hot water pipes?

Lagging on cold and hot pipes

Clothes Washing and Drying Always hot or warm Sometimes warm

The water temperature you use for clothes washing?

Always cold

Always use the dryer Sometimes use the dryer How do you dry clothes? Always dry on the clothes line / clothes airer

Fridges and Freezers Always running Only on when needed Do you have a second fridge or freezer? No second fridge or freezer

In a hot spot A sometimes warm spot Your fridge(s) and freezer(s) located? In a cool spot

Running at less than 3oC Frosts up occasionally Your fridge and freezer temperature Fridge does not frost up

No air gaps on sides and top Some air gaps Your fridge and freezer ventilation? Plenty of space around fridge

Yes Are the seals on your refrigerator and freezer tight? No

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Lighting Incandescent or halogen lights Some fluorescents Mainly fluorescents

What types of lights do you have?

Some LED’s

Lights left on all the time Lights turned off occasionally Do you regularly turn off lights? Lights turned off when no one in the room/area

Yes If you have recessed ceiling lights, are they

correctly installed? No Thermal Envelope – This refers to refers to how well your home prevents heat from moving from inside to outside in the winter and outside to inside in the summer.

No Ceiling

Do you have the correct amount of home insulation?

Ceiling and walls

None Some

Is there shading on your north facing windows?

Shade summer sun only

None Some

Is there shade on eastern and western windows?

Well shaded in summer

None Good curtains

Are there curtains and pelmets over the living room windows?

Good curtains and pelmets

Large gaps Some gaps

Any there draughts from windows, external doors?

No gaps

Yes Is your roof vented? No

Yes Can you feel a draft around light switches and receptacles on outside walls? No

Heating and Cooling System -The single biggest user of energy in your home is the heating and cooling system. It can also be the single biggest area for increasing energy efficiency!

Whole house All living spaces

How much of your home do you heat and cool?

Only rooms that people are in

Ducted whole of house or many electric heaters Single room heater

How do you heat your home?

Warm clothes and occasional heater

Ducted whole of house Single room air conditioner How do you cool your home? Ceiling fans and night breezes

24oC or more 22oC

What is your living area temperature in winter?

20oC or less

21oC or less 23oC

What is your living area temperature in summer?

25oC or more

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Yes Do you have your heating and cooling system checked annually? No

Yes If you have a central air conditioner or heat pump, is the outside unit free of debris? No

Yes If you have duct work, is it sealed and insulated? No

Pools, Cooking and Other Heated and filter always runs

Do you have a pool? Solar or no heating, filter runs for less than 6 hours a day and regularly cleaned

Waterbed Do you heat your beds? Electric blanket used just before bed time

Electric stove and oven Occasional microwave Microwave only

What is your main form of cooking?

Gas cooker and oven

Turn on and off with remote control Turn off at the wall sometimes How do you turn off your appliances? Turn off at the wall most of the time

Left on for long periods Use Energy Star sleep features How do you turn your computer and

computer monitor off? Monitor and PC turned off, or don’t have a computer

Support Information Checking your hot water temperature

If you don’t know your water heater’s thermostat setting, measure the delivered water temperature by placing a thermometer under a running hot water tap that is closest to the water heater. Delivered water temperature may be a few degrees lower than tank temperature.

Measuring shower head and tap flow rates

To measure shower and tap flow rates: - turn the hot and cold water taps to level of flow you would normally use during a shower and let it flow into a bucket for 10 seconds. Measure the amount of water in litres you have collected. Multiply this volume by six and this will give you the flow rate in litres per minute. Take care to avoid spilling any hot water on yourself.

Measuring fridge and freezer temperatures

To measure the temperature inside your fridge or freezer, place a thermometer to the back and bottom of the fridge or freezer and leave it for at least 5 minutes. If you have an infrared thermometer, this will only take a few seconds.

Measuring living area temperatures

Living room temperatures can be measured with a thermometer near where people tend to be in the room or by the thermostat setting on the heater or cooler. Note: Do not follow the thermostat temperature as there may be a few degrees difference between the thermostat setting and the actual room temperature.

Checking for ceiling and wall insulation

When using a ladder, follow the correct instructions originally provided with it. If you go into the ceiling, only place your feet and hands on secure rafters, avoiding to pinch electrical cables under foot