Checklist
Residential energy use is responsible for around 36% of the end use energy consumption for Victoria. Greenhouse gas emissions from this consumption can be decreased through simple, easy to do, day to day actions.
Start to make a difference
This checklist collects all the different actions described across this site into a convenient and easy to use list. The actions you can commit to do, check the tick box and it will add itself to the My Actions area shown to the right.
Tell us about actions you're taking to save energy at home
We would love to hear about ideas you have and actions you're taking to save energy at home.
You can email your energy saving actions to:
saveenergy@sustainability.vic.gov.au
What you can do today.
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For every two degrees you lower the thermostat setting in winter, you can save up to 17,800 black balloons and up to $139.
Aim to set your thermostat to between 18 and 20 degrees for great savings.
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By shaving a few minutes off your time in the shower, you can take dollars off your energy bill and help the environment.
Keep your shower under four minutes and you'll save up to 2,300 balloons and $18 a year per person.
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Air leaks can account for 15 to 25 percent of heat loss from an uninsulated home and create uncomfortable draughts.
Gaps around external doors and windows can be sealed using a kit from a hardware store. If your home has wooden floors, you can fill gaps in floorboards and skirting with newspaper, beading or sealant.
Put draught stoppers on all your doors and windows and save up to 800 balloons.
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Switch appliances off at the wall
Most appliances continue to use "standby power" when they're switched off by the remote control, sometimes as much when they're on.
Switch appliances off at the power point when they're not in use to save up to 10 percent on your energy bill and up to 7,700 balloons of greenhouse gas a year.
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Switch to energy saving light globes
They may be slightly more expensive to buy, but the advantages far outweigh the initial expense. Energy-saving compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) can last between 4 and 10 times longer than the average incandescent light bulb and use much less energy to produce the same amount of light.
Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light globes and you'll save up to 2,800 balloons a year.
The Australian Government is gradually phasing out all inefficient light bulbs. Visit the Australian Greenhouse Office website (http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/) for more information.
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Don't leave the lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than five minutes, turn off the light. If there's enough natural light, don't turn the light on at all.
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Turn off the extra fridge
A fridge uses the most electricity of any appliance in the house. If you have an extra fridge or freezer that you only use for special occasions, switch it off until you need it.
By switching off your second fridge, you can save up to 14,600 balloons of greenhouse gas and up to $87 a year.
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Wash your clothes in cold water
Don't use hot water when cold water will do the job. Washing clothes in cold water not only cuts your energy costs but your greenhouse gas emissions. Cold water washing powders and detergents are widely available.
You'll save up to 2,600 balloons and $20 each year if you switch to a cold wash every time.
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What you can do this year.
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A lot of heat escapes through the doors, windows, walls and the roof of a house through conduction. Insulation can limit heat loss from your house by as much as 35 percent in winter.
Insulation works by creating a barrier to heat transfer. In winter, it helps keep your home warmer by trapping the warm air inside.
The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation to the ceiling or in the roof. Installing or topping-up insulation in your ceiling can save you up to $325 and 41,800 balloons a year.
The most important thing to consider when choosing insulation is the ‘R value'. An R value is a measure of the insulation's resistance to heat flow and therefore, its performance. The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. For houses in metropolitan Melbourne, the minimum recommended ‘R' level for insulation is R2.5 to R3.0 for ceilings and R1.5 for walls.
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