• Choose a block that has clear access to the low-angled winter sun.
• Plan the rooms in your home to take full advantage of elements such as natural lighting.
• The size and position of windows should be carefully planned according to the direction they face.
• Window protection such as shutters, eaves and drapes can help keep your house cooler in summer and prevent heat loss in the winter.
• Prevent draughts in areas such as construction joints between walls, gaps between and around windows, air vents etc.
• Insulate your home. Insulation is the single most effective item you can add to your home to improve its energy efficiency.
• Set your heating system up so that you have the flexibility to heat individual zones of the home with energy efficient heaters.
• In the initial planning of the house, group together rooms that use hot water, to ensure more efficient use of your hot water system.
• For a more detailed guide to making your home energy efficient you can visit the GreenPower website or download one of their brochures from the links on the right.

• Make sure ceilings, walls and doors are well insulated.
• Seal off draughts around windows, doors and other gaps.
• Take advantage of external shading over your north, east and west windows.
• Enable appropriate ventilation to allow cool air inside the house.

• Insulate ceilings, walls and floors where possible.
• Seal off draughts.
• Invest in effective window coverings.
• Zone off living and sleeping areas, or install curtains across open archways.
• Buy an energy efficient heater and make sure it's the right size for the area you wish to heat.
• Use the thermostat on your heater correctly. For every degree you increase the setting, your bill may increase by up to 15%.
• Don't leave your heater running on low overnight or while you are out during the day.
• Install a timer or programmable thermostat to turn your heater on and off automatically.
• Turn off the pilot light (if fitted) over summer.
• Maintain your heater - keep reflectors shiny and free of dust, and clean air-filters regularly.
• Open up curtains to north-facing windows on sunny winter days to let in the free, natural solar energy to warm your home.
• Wearing warmer clothing is free, easy and will let you turn down your heater just those few degrees more.

• Understand the different types of lightbulbs and their energy usage:
• Incandescent are the most common type of lighting. They are inexpensive to buy but bulbs have to be frequently replaced as they only last 1,000 hours.
• Halogen lamps are about twice as energy efficient as standard incandescent globes. They are more expensive to buy but last up to 2,000 hours.
• Fluorescent lamps are the most energy efficient form of lighting. They are expensive to buy but cheap to run and last up to 8,000 to 16,000 hours.
• Turn off lights when not required.
• Do not leave outdoor lights on all night or during the day - consider using timers or sensors.
• Use the lowest wattage light needed to adequately light up an area.
• Use task specific or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting wherever possible.
• Keep lights and fittings clean.
• Avoid using downlights.
• Avoid using multiple globe fittings.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps in rooms where the light is on for long periods.
• Avoid having several lights activated by one switch - use separate switches for each light.

• Choose a hot water system that is the right size for your requirements.
• Check the energy ratings labels to ensure you are getting the most efficient system (currently only available on gas or solar hot water systems).
• Pick the best place in the home to install the system - close to the kitchen is the ideal spot and preferably not too far from the bathroom and laundry.
• Save energy by insulating the first few metres of outlet pipe from your hot water cylinder.
• Fix any dripping taps you may have - if your tap drips at a rate of 60 times a minute, you could be wasting 450 litres of water each month.
• Remember to plug your sink before running hot water.
• Short showers generally use less hot water than baths.
• Use cold water where possible - for example, try washing in cold water detergents.

• Choose the right oven for your needs. Fan forced ovens perform 25 per cent more efficiently than a convection oven.
• Think about using your microwave. They save time and up to 70 per cent on the cost of running a convection oven.
• Use small appliances when you can. Small appliances such as electric frying pans, sandwich makers and bread makers generally use much less energy than grillers, hotplates and ovens.
• Use steamers and pot dividers to cook all your vegetables at once rather than using several pots to cook them all separately.
• Use the smaller hot plates to heat saucepans, so that excess heat will not be lost.
• Only fill the kettle to meet your needs.
• Always place lids on pots and simmer instead of boil.
• Take food out of the freezer and allow to thaw in the fresh food section of the fridge before cooking it. Food that is properly thawed generally takes 15 minutes less per 500 grams to cook.
• Cleaning and maintaining your kitchen appliances properly will also minimise cooking time and maximise energy efficiency.

Buy energy efficient appliances

By choosing energy efficient appliances for your home, you can save on your energy bill every year.

Energy Rating Labels rate an appliance's energy efficiency on a scale of one to six stars. The red box tells you how much energy the appliance used during one year when tested to an Australian Standard. The most important thing to remember is more stars combined with a lower energy consumption number means a more energy efficient appliance.

Use the Energy Rating Label to select the most efficient unit when comparing appliances of similar features and size within your price range. For example, if the star ratings are the same you should compare the consumption figures. By multiplying the consumption figure by your energy price rate you can calculate the standard running cost of the appliance.

The running costs of an appliance over its lifetime can be just as important as the purchase price. By using the Energy Rating Label you'll save money on appliance running costs from the first day you use it.

Find out more

More information is available on the Federal Government's energy rating site at www.energyrating.gov.au

To find out how you can save more money on your energy bill visit our efficiency calculator - click here