Energy efficiency saves you money and helps save the environment, so what can you do to improve the energy efficiency of your existing home? Following are a number of things you can do. 1. Deciduous Trees: Deciduous trees shade windows in summer - but allow winter sun to warm the home. 2. Pergolas: A pergola with louvres keeps summer heat out - but still allows winter sun to get through. 3. Awnings and Shutters: Unshaded windows produce a hot house - awnings and shutters keep it cool. 4. Paving: Paving under windows reflects heat inside - waterwise plants absorb it. 5. Solar panels: Switch to solar power - and generate your own electricity. 6. Solar hot water: Switch to solar hot water - and reduce your energy costs. 7. Utilise Cooling Breezes: Open the windows - to allow cool breezes to cool the home. 8. Waterwise garden: Reduce the use of your bore pump - plant a waterwise garden. 9. Outside lighting: Put external lights on sensors - or use solar lights. 10. Close doors and curtains: Don't waste your air-conditioning - keep doors and curtains closed. 11. Insulation: Insulate your home - and reduce heating and cooling costs.
1. Use trees to control heat Unshaded windows allow the summer sun to heat up the home. Deciduous trees, planted on the side of the house that faces the sun, will shade windows in the middle of the day during summer and this will help to keep the home cool. When choosing plants, select lower growing varieties, so that they will not shade solar panels or solar hot water systems. In winter, remember to leave curtains and blinds on windows facing the sun open, to allow the sun to enter and warm the home naturally. 2. Build a pergola with louvres Unshaded windows allow summer sun to heat up the home. Pergolas with louvres positioned at the correct angle (eg 34 degrees for Perth, Wester Austrailia) and the optimal distance apart, will provide shade when the summer sun is high in the sky. In winter the sun is much lower and will shine through the louvres to heat the home. As an alternative to louvres, use a deciduous vine growing on a pergola or use removable shade cloth.
3. Provide shade to windows Unshaded windows allow summer sun to heat up the home. Window awnings or roller shutters can be used to reduce the amount of summer sun that enters the home, but allow the lower winter sun to enter. Strategically placed shade sails can also be used for similar effect. All external window shading is enhanced by the use of internal blinds or curtains with fitted pelmets. 4. Minimise reflected heat Paving under windows that face the sun can increase the heat in a room, as the sun bounces off the paving and through the glass. If practical, replace the paving near windows by using waterwise ground covers, with mulched beds, moving the paving further away. Outdoor mats can also be used to shade paving if necessary.
5. Switch to solar power Switch to solar power and generate electricity from the sun. A solar photovoltaic (PV) system generates clean electricity which creates little or no greenhouse emissions. A solar PV system allows you to harness the power of the sun, creating sustainable energy which you can utilise to help power your home. Read more about solar power and Synergy s solar PV system provided by our partner Solar Unlimited (www.synergy.net.au/solar ) 6. Install a solar hot water system Hot water can form a large part of our electricity use. Installing a solar hot water system can help reduce these costs and help the environment too. Consider switching to Synergy SmartPower, and take advantage of cheaper, off peak electricity when the electric booster may be required. To learn more, visit our SmartPower page. (www.synergy.net.au/smartpower)
7. Take advantage of cooling summer breezes After a hot day, cool your home by taking advantage of the cool evening breezes. Keep lower branches on trees and other vegetation trimmed to prevent them from blocking the breezes. Consider installing security screens, which will allow you to leave windows and doors open late into the evening. In addition keep curtains or blinds and internal doors open when practical, to allow cooling breezes to go right through the home. 8. Minimise garden watering Lawns and exotic plants, require more watering, so, if you re using a bore, this means additional electricity costs too. Consider a garden makeover using waterwise plants, with quality mulch and trickle irrigation (to get them started). Choose small plants as they will form deeper roots and grow faster than those in larger pots. You may consider installing a rainwater tank too. For more garden ideas attend one of our free Great Gardens Energy Efficient Workshops. (www.synergy.net.au/greatgardens)
9. Use sensors and solar garden lights Review your use of exterior lighting. If floodlights are required, make sure they have sensors and are used wisely during outdoor living. Try some of the new fluorescent or LED flood lights, as they can be much more economical to run. If you need additional outdoor lighting, consider using solar lights to illuminate pathways, as this light is free, automatic and only takes a few minutes to install. 10. Maximise air-conditioning efficiency Reverse cycle, split system air conditioners are considered one of the cheaper forms of heating and cooling but can be expensive if not used in the optimal way. Set your air-conditioner to 21ºC for winter and 24 ºC for summer, keep doors to unused rooms closed, and use curtains or blinds to prevent the cooled or heated air from escaping through the glass. Curtains or blinds should be light coloured facing the glass and include fitted pelmets which will limit heat transfer through the glass, over the top of the curtains.
11. Use high efficiency insulation Insulating the ceiling helps to block out heat from the sun during summer and stops the heat from escaping from your home during winter. If you have a timber home you may also want to consider insulating the walls and even the floor if it is raised off the ground. Where possible, use a good quality, high rated insulation. Silver foil on both sides of the insulation gives maximum effect. Government concessions for insulating your home may be available. Extract vents in the roof will also help heat escape from the roof cavity. If your roof needs repainting, choosing a light colour can also help. Further energy efficiency information and tools: Still not sure of what you can do to save around your home? Why not have an Home Audit? (www.synergy.net.au/homeaudit) Want some ideas on how to use your appliances to save money? Take a home tour with our Energy Calculator. (www.synergy.net.au/calculator) Want some simple no cost ways to save? Try the suggestions in Bill Manager. (www.synergy.net.au/billmanager) Not sure whether switching to fluorescent globes is worth it? Our Better Globes Calculator will help you decide. (www.synergy.net.au/betterglobes ) Building a new home? See how to design an energy efficient home. (www.synergy.net.au/envirohome) Want to generate your own electricity? Try solar power. (www.synergy.net.au/solar) For further detailed information about designing and building an energy efficient home or renovating your existing home, visit the following websites: www.yourhome.gov.au www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/energy_smart_homes.asp