Household appliances and equipment accounts for about one-third of household energy use and almost half of household greenhouse gas emissions (source: www.synergy.com.au). Fridge/freezer and TV’s are usually the highest individual electricity users. Running and maintaining outdoor leisure equipment such as pools and spas also use a significant amount of energy (source: www.yourhome.com.au). Below we look at several appliances that use lots of energy and how we can reduce their consumption.
Washing machines, dryers, other laundry appliances and hot water account for around 27% of energy usage in Western Australian homes (source: www.synergy.com.au). To reduce this usage:
- purchase high energy and water star rated appliances
- dry clothes on an outside line rather then drying in the electric dryer
- ensure the lint filter in your dryer is clean
- wash in eco-mode and with cold water when possible
- do a full load of washing
- older washing machines tend to be less energy and water efficient so consider buying a new one if yours is several years old
- front loader washing machines tend to be more energy efficient and water efficient than top loaders
- use renewable energy sources to heat water and install the most appropriate size water heater for your home
based on household size, water use pattern and climate
Home entertainment equipment (eg TVs and game consoles) and home study equipment (eg computers, printers and scanners) use quite a lot of household energy. As these appliances continue to decrease in price and become more affordable, it is not uncommon for individual households to have several similar appliances (eg a TV in every bedroom). This has resulted in the amount of electricity these appliances use increasing every year – even when not in use. In fact, home entertainment and home study equipment are usually plugged in at the wall behind furniture and are on ‘stand-by’ power which contribute up to 10% of household energy consumption.
To reduce energy consumption it is important to:
- turn these equipment off when not in use, preferably at the power outlet (or use a stand-by power controller)
- look at the Energy Star rating for the product before purchasing
Lighting in homes accounts for 8 -15% of electrical energy usage. However, this usage can differ depending on type of lighting used (compact fluorescence and LED), lighting and house design and user behaviour.
To reduce energy consumption by lighting:
- design your home to maximize the use of daylight so that electric lighting is not required during
daylight hours (eg install skylights in dark area rooms)
- change halogen down lights to LED
- make sure to turn lights off when you leave the room
- consider using candles for lighting where possible
- open window treatments to let in natural light rather then turning lights on
- try to use timers for lights where appropriate, and sensors for outdoor lighting
- If you're working at a desk, try using a desk lamp to light the area rather than lighting the whole room
Washing machines, dryers, other laundry appliances and hot water account for around 27% of energy usage in Western Australian homes (source: www.synergy.com.au). To reduce this usage:
- purchase high energy and water star rated appliances
- dry clothes on an outside line rather then drying in the electric dryer
- ensure the lint filter in your dryer is clean
- wash in eco-mode and with cold water when possible
- do a full load of washing
- older washing machines tend to be less energy and water efficient so consider buying a new one if yours is several years old
- front loader washing machines tend to be more energy efficient and water efficient than top loaders
- use renewable energy sources to heat water and install the most appropriate size water heater for your home
based on household size, water use pattern and climate
Home entertainment equipment (eg TVs and game consoles) and home study equipment (eg computers, printers and scanners) use quite a lot of household energy. As these appliances continue to decrease in price and become more affordable, it is not uncommon for individual households to have several similar appliances (eg a TV in every bedroom). This has resulted in the amount of electricity these appliances use increasing every year – even when not in use. In fact, home entertainment and home study equipment are usually plugged in at the wall behind furniture and are on ‘stand-by’ power which contribute up to 10% of household energy consumption.
To reduce energy consumption it is important to:
- turn these equipment off when not in use, preferably at the power outlet (or use a stand-by power controller)
- look at the Energy Star rating for the product before purchasing
Lighting in homes accounts for 8 -15% of electrical energy usage. However, this usage can differ depending on type of lighting used (compact fluorescence and LED), lighting and house design and user behaviour.
To reduce energy consumption by lighting:
- design your home to maximize the use of daylight so that electric lighting is not required during
daylight hours (eg install skylights in dark area rooms)
- change halogen down lights to LED
- make sure to turn lights off when you leave the room
- consider using candles for lighting where possible
- open window treatments to let in natural light rather then turning lights on
- try to use timers for lights where appropriate, and sensors for outdoor lighting
- If you're working at a desk, try using a desk lamp to light the area rather than lighting the whole room
Buying Energy Efficient Appliances
When choosing appliances, you should look at the ‘Energy Rating Labeling Scheme’ and ‘Water Efficiency Labeling Scheme’ found on appliances. This international labeling systems allows comparison of different appliances by a star rating system. The more stars, the less water or energy the appliance uses. The label also includes the possible total energy or water cost of running that appliance for a year. However, it is important to note that the physical size of the appliance needs to be considered because a large 5 star model may use more energy or water than a small 4 star model.