Energy saving tips

• How much more in Energy Savings can be achieved at home and work?
• Where can more energy be saved with simple changes?
• What low cost changes will be a good return on investment?

Introduction

Look at the sections below to work out where more energy efficiency can be applied for your situation.

Lighting

Change light bulbs for compact fluorescent lights or LED lights to save 80-88% on electricity. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Use sunlight instead of artificial light if available. E.g Skylights Use automatic controlled lighting which only operate when people are present. Use fluorescent tubes with electronic controllers (ballasts) and approximately 33%. Consider replacing halogen light fittings for compact fluorescent lights that fit in the same area.

Hot Water

Install water saving shower rose and tap aerators to save over 50% on hot water. Try to limit showers to 4 minutes to save on hot water. Fix any water leaks promptly. Work out how much hot water you use per year and see if solar hot water is cost effective.

Cooling

Insulation can save up to 80% in heating and cooling costs. Window tinting can reduce solar radiation by 70%. Powered roof ventilation can reduce roof loft temperature by 5 degrees Celsius. Use natural breezes and fans instead of air conditioners where possible. Clean air conditioner filters to improve efficiency. Consider running bedroom air conditioners on off peak electricity. Reducing general electrical consumption can also lower cooling requirements.

Heating

Stopping draft through exhaust fans that are off with a self closing shutters can save 20% in heating and cooling Set cooling for 24 degrees Celsius and heating at 20 degrees Celsius. Control the area cooled or heated by closing doors, windows and stopping drafts.

Entertainment

Consider placing a rooms entertainment equipment on one power board and switching it off at the wall when not in use. Appliances can be controlled by remote controlled power boards if power point access is difficult. Turn off gaming consoles at the wall when not in use as some have a very high standby power consumption.

Computers

Turn on computer power management with screen power down at 15 minutes and computer sleep in 30 minutes of inactivity. Control computer peripherals with a USB controlled power board that is only on when the computer is on. Choose a laptop instead of a desktop and save over 50% in energy costs. Buy efficienct computers with Energy Star 4 or 5 rating and include 80 Plus standard power supplies.

Appliances

Use cold water for the washing machine. Save 50 - 150 litres of hot water costs per load. Use clothes line rather than dryer. Clean dryer filters regularly to improve efficiency. Consider ducting hot dryer air out of the house to save on cooling. Turn off fridges that do not need to be in use. Look for new appliances with 1 watt standby and are top performers in Energy Stars.

Timers

Consider daily, weekly, countdown timers or sensors to limit lighting hours. Countdown timers can be used for classrooms, stairways, walkways, exhaust fans etc. Any device with a moderate standby power consumption may benefit from a timer.

Measurement

Consider measuring electricity consumption to accurately measure savings. $40 AUD for power point measurement. $100 AUD for building power measurement.

Further Considerations

Is solar energy worthwhile in your location to create electricity at a better rate that from the grid? Cogeneration can create electricity first and then heat using gas. The electricity generation is a bonus energy return. The can scale to large number of buildings.