The Ultimate DIY Home Energy Audit
A home energy audit can save you hundreds of dollars a year. By conducting a thorough check of your home and finding ways to reduce your energy usage, you can be sure to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter without breaking the bank.
Click on the house below for tips on how to be more energy efficient in each room of the house.
KitchenBathroomBedroomLaundryOfficeDining roomRoof
Kitchen
Appliances:
Microwave, oven, stove, toaster, kettle, grill, fridge/freezer and dishwasher.
Tips:
- Use the microwave instead of the oven or stove, and the toaster instead of the grill.
- When using the kettle, only boil the amount of water required.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s full, using the economy cycle, and let the dishes air-dry.
- Make sure the fridge and freezer doors seal properly.
- Clean the coils on the back of your fridge to help keep it running efficiently.
- Reduce cooking time by thawing frozen food in the fridge and keeping lids on pots.
Bathroom
Appliances:
Water heater, showerheads, radiator and heat pumps.
Tips:
- Install an efficient water heater, like solar water heating.
- Use water-saving showerheads.
- Add insulation to your hot water system and use a low thermostat setting.
- Invest in renewable heating technologies like heat pumps.
- Reduce your hot water use and shower time.
- Flush the toilet less, repair any leaks, and retrofit it with a kit that conserves water.
Bedroom
Appliances:
Fan, heater, air conditioner, TV and DVD players.
Tips:
- Use a programmable thermostat for your heater and air conditioner to control the temperature.
- Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
- Use the fan more than your heater and air conditioner if possible.
- Use a heavier doona during winter to keep you warm.
Laundry
Appliances:
Washing machine and clothes dryer.
Tips:
- Wash your clothes in cold water and select a short washing cycle.
- Only run the washing machine with a full load.
- Dry clothes on the clothesline if you can.
Office
Appliances:
Fan, heater, air conditioner, computer and printer/scanner/fax.
Tips:
- Use a programmable thermostat for your heater and air conditioner to control the temperature.
- Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
- Use the fan more than your heater and air conditioner if possible.
Dining room
Appliances:
Fan, heater and air conditioner.
Tips:
- Use a programmable thermostat for your heating and cooling systems.
- Use the fan more if possible.
Roof
Appliances:
Attic insulation and solar panels.
Tips:
- Prevent heat escaping from the attic by insulating it approximately 12cm deep with a high R-value material, e.g. R-30.
- Clear attic vents of insulation to help with interior air circulation.
- Install solar panels on your roof to generate your own renewable energy.
- General
Tips - Energy
Ratings - Seasonal
Adjustments - Insulation and
Draughts - Heating and
Cooling - Lighting
- Floor
Heating - Tips for
Renters
General tips on saving energy
- Use energy-efficient appliances with low standby power.
- Unplug appliances and electronics when you’re not using them or if they’re fully charged.
- Use a standby power controller to reduce standby time and to turn off unused appliances.
- Clean and replace the filter on your furnace and air conditioner on a regular basis.
- Have a professional inspect your heating and air conditioning systems once a year to ensure they’re working properly.
- Use a programmable thermostat that can be automatically turned on or off as needed and that can also lower the temperature when you’re not at home.
- Always check for leaking faucets and fix them as soon as you can.
- Use low-flow faucet aerators.
- Use energy-efficient lighting such as LED (light-emitting diode) or CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).
- Seal air leaks around your windows, doors, floors and electrical outlets with draught-proofing products like caulk or weather stripping.
- Close doors, windows, blinds or curtains to prevent heat or hot or cold air from entering.
- Properly insulate your roof, attic, ceiling, floor and external walls.
Energy ratings
A range of appliances, such as gas heaters and reverse cycle air conditioners, have Energy Rating Labels that you can use to compare the energy use (kWh per year) and efficiency of similar-sized models before choosing the most efficient one that suits your needs and budget. These labels display a star rating system where the more stars an appliance has, the more energy efficient it is.
In Australia, the highest number of stars an appliance can have is 6 (for most energy-efficient), or 12 for an appliance that offers both cooling and heating options (6 for cooling and 6 for heating). The most efficient models are cheaper to run and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional models.
You can visit the Energy Rating website to compare the estimated running costs of different appliances and to find the most efficient models. Using energy-efficient appliances can save you money and you’ll also be able to help the environment at the same time.
Seasonal adjustments
How to save energy in summer and winter
The summer and winter months usually mean increased energy usage, but there are many ways you can save energy on your heating and air conditioning.
- Use energy-efficient heating or cooling units and install them in different areas of your home to reduce their running time.
- Set your thermostat to 18-20°C in winter and 25-27°C in summer.
- Only heat or cool the rooms that you use often or when you need them.
- Use your fireplace to quickly warm up your home and close the damper when not in use to prevent heated air from escaping and cold air from entering the house. Also clean the fireplace.
- Don’t cover air vents or radiators to ensure airflow isn’t obstructed and moves freely throughout your home.
- Use your ceiling fans in summer to cool the place and run them in reverse in winter to bring the warm air down.
- In winter, open your curtains or blinds during the day to let natural light in to warm up your home, and close them at night to keep the chill out. In summer, do the opposite.
- Also in winter, install area rugs in a room to add extra insulation to the floor, which traps the cool air underneath. Area rugs will also keep your feet warm.
- Turn off your heating unit at night and use a heavy blanket. If it’s hot, turn off your cooling unit and use a fan instead.
- Don’t leave your heater and air conditioner on when you’re not at home. If you wish, you can have them turn on 15 minutes before you return.
- Use space heaters instead of a central heating system to heat up individual rooms quickly and cheaply.
- Put a cover on your air conditioning unit to keep the warm air inside during winter. If you have a window unit, remove it from and close the window.
- Wear fewer clothes in summer and more in winter to avoid always using your heater or air conditioner.
Insulation and Draughts
You can keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer with proper insulation and draught-proofing. A fully insulated and draught-proofed home is the best way to increase the comfort and energy efficiency of your home, as well as reduce your heating and cooling costs.
You should insulate your ceilings, attic, walls, flooring, windows and doors to reduce heat flow into and out of the home. Insulation materials have an R-value that’s measured by the amount of heat that’s allowed to pass through them. A high R-value means heat is less likely to escape. On the other hand, cracks and gaps can cause draughts, so you should draught-proof your windows, doors, downlights, fans, fireplaces and evaporative air coolers to keep hot or cold air inside.
Heating and Cooling
You can keep your house warm or cool by using the right winter heating and summer cooling systems.
Heating systems | Cooling systems |
---|---|
|
|
Lighting
Appliances:
Light bulbs, skylights and lamps.
Tips:
- Replace incandescent/halogen light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, such as LED or CFLs.
- Use skylights to let natural light into the home.
- Add lamps where necessary for more light and warmth.
- Turn off the lights when they’re not needed.
Floor heating
Radiant floor heating (aka underfloor heating) is a system which conducts heat through the surface of the floor, where infrared radiation waves rise from the floor and warm up all surrounding surfaces and objects at the same temperature.
It is energy-efficient as you can keep yourself warm and comfortable at a lower temperature during cold weather, which in turn enables you to lower your thermostat setting. Other benefits of radiant floor heating are:
- It doesn’t continuously cycle on and off where you feel warm and then suddenly cold.
- It doesn’t dry out the air and ensures it stays clean.
- It’s draught-free.
There are two types of radiant floor heating systems:
- Electric – Heat is delivered through electric-resistance cables or heat mats under the floor. An electric system is great for small areas like the bathroom or kitchen. To save on energy costs, it’s best to use a programmable thermostat with this system.
- Hydronic – Heat is delivered through hot water tubes also beneath the floor. The hot water is taken from an oil or gas boiler or a water heater that uses a low temperature to heat the water. A hydronic system is perfect for large areas, or even the whole house.
Flooring materials that work best with radiant heating are those with thermal-conducting properties, such as stone, concrete and ceramic tile.
Tips for renters
If you’re renting your place, whether it’s an apartment or a house, you can save energy in the following ways:
- Use a programmable thermostat to control your heating and cooling levels.
- Install drought-proofing gaskets behind outlets and switches.
- Seal air leaks by applying removable rope caulk around your windows and doors.
- Use power strips to turn off vampire energy (standby power) when electronics aren’t being used.
- Change your furnace filter every 1-3 months to improve its efficiency and for constantly clean air.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs like LED or CFLs.
- Install blinds and curtains to control heat loss and heat gain, as well as light levels.
- Use a humidifier in dry weather and during winter to increase humidity levels and lower your thermostat setting.
How to conduct a home energy audit
If you’re thinking of conducting a home energy audit yourself, it’s important that you plan ahead and know what to do. A home energy audit should only take you 2-4 hours to complete and a little money to spend on auditing tools. The payoff is huge savings on your energy bills.
You should audit everything inside your home, including your main household appliances. The following is a checklist of questions to ask yourself as you conduct your own home energy audit. The more things you answer ‘yes’ to, the more energy efficient your home is.
Heating and cooling | Yes | No |
Is your HVAC system less than 10 years old? | ||
Do you have a programmable thermostat? | ||
Is your thermostat set to a low temperature? | ||
Are the filters and ducts clean? | ||
Do you use ceiling fans? | ||
Are your heating and cooling systems energy-efficient? |
Water heating | Yes | No |
Do you use an energy-efficient hot water system? | ||
Is your hot water system positioned near the bathroom? | ||
Is the thermostat set to a low temperature? | ||
Are your hot water pipes properly insulated? | ||
Do you use a water-efficient showerhead? |
Appliances and electronics | Yes | No |
Are your appliances and electronics energy-efficient? | ||
Are they plugged into power strips? | ||
Is your microwaved turned off when not in use? |
Fridges and freezers | Yes | No |
Do the doors seal properly and not leak air? | ||
Is there less than 5mm of frost build-up on the freezer walls? | ||
Do you run only one fridge and freezer? | ||
Are they energy-efficient? | ||
Are they situated in a cool, well-ventilated and shaded area? | ||
Is the temperature of the fridge between 3-5°C and the freezer between minus 15-18°C? |
Lighting | Yes | No |
Are you using energy-efficient light bulbs? | ||
Do you use lights with low wattage? | ||
Do your outdoor lights have motion sensors? | ||
Can each light be turned on and off individually? | ||
Do you use individual lamps in each room? | ||
Do you use skylights? |
Cooking | Yes | No |
Does the oven door seal properly? | ||
Do you use energy-efficient appliances? |
Standby power | Yes | No |
Do you use a standby power controller to reduce standby time? | ||
Do your appliances have low standby power? | ||
Do you turn off your appliances at the wall or power board? |
Windows | Yes | No |
Does the glass have a tint or coating? Is a thin film applied on the glass? | ||
Are your window frames timber, uPVC or combination frames, rather than aluminum? | ||
Are your blinds white or almost white? Do your blinds have a reflective surface on the outside to help reduce the energy used to cool your home? | ||
Are your blinds and pelmet fitted tightly so there’s no room for air to be trapped? | ||
Do you have thick fabric curtains to help increase insulation? | ||
Do your windows have a ventilation opening to allow heat to escape and reduce the work your air conditioner has to do? |
Shading and landscaping | Yes | No |
Does your external shading have a light colour? Does it have a reflective surface on the outside? | ||
Does the positioning of your external shading structures match the level of sun you receive? Do you have horizontal shading on any north-facing openings? | ||
Do your plants provide shade in summer to protect your home from heat? | ||
Do you use ground cover plants rather than pavers or concrete, which can attract heat and make more work for your air conditioner? | ||
Are your skylights covered by external blinds or louvers to stop unwanted heat coming in? | ||
Have you planted deciduous vines to grow on your pergolas for summer shade? |
Insulation | Yes | No |
Is your home made of something that has good insulation properties, like aerated concrete blocks, hollow expanded polystyrene blocks, rendered extruded polystyrene sheets, and even straw bales? | ||
Do your roof and ceiling have insulation? | ||
Do your external walls have insulation? | ||
Is there insulation under the floor? | ||
Do your downlights have protectors installed in the ceiling? | ||
Do you have the right amount of exterior shading for your insulation? |
Proofing and sealing | Yes | No |
Have you fixed any cracks or gaps in your interior wall joints? | ||
Are there seals around your windows where air leaks? | ||
Are there seals between any excess space between doors and their frames? | ||
Do you have door sweeps at the bottom edge of your doors? | ||
Have you sealed gaps where your air conditioner enters your home? | ||
Have you had an electrician install draught-proofing gaskets behind your electrical points? | ||
Have you had an electrician check exposed piping, electrical or telephone lines and seal any gaps around them? |