Australian households are being hit by rising electricity prices and increasingly extreme weather. The Australian Energy Regulator's 2025 Default Market Offer adjustments show increases from about 0.5% to 9.7%, depending on your region. After years helping homeowners manage these pressures, I see the same pattern: the biggest savings come from reducing heat loss and heat gain and running major appliances smarter, not from trendy gadgets.
These 15 proven home energy efficiency tips are ranked by impact, cost, and difficulty. You start with no-cost habits, progress through low-cost weatherisation, and finish with high-return electrification upgrades. Whether you rent or own, you can lift comfort and cut bills within weeks.
Understand Where Australian Homes Use Energy First
Understanding your energy consumption patterns is the essential first step toward meaningful savings. In most Australian homes, heating and cooling account for 20% to 50% of energy use, depending on your climate zone and dwelling type. Hot water is usually the next major load, while lighting now represents only around 5% to 10% thanks to LED adoption.
The Zoned Energy Rating Label for air conditioners gives climate-specific seasonal efficiency data that is more useful than a single national rating. For other appliances, the standard Energy Rating Label lets you compare annual kilowatt-hours and estimate lifetime running costs quickly. When you shop for windows, the Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) helps you compare U-value, which measures insulation, and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), which measures how much solar heat the glass lets in.
Tip 1: Use Smarter Set-Points, Zoning, and Timers To Reduce HVAC Use
Adjusting your thermostat costs nothing and delivers immediate results. Each degree of extra heating in winter or cooling in summer changes your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) energy use by roughly 5% to 10%. Aim for 18 to 20 °C in winter and 25 to 27 °C in summer to balance comfort and efficiency.
Heat or cool only the rooms you actually use by closing doors to create zones. Use programmable timers to pre-heat or pre-cool before you wake or arrive home, and make sure systems shut off during sleep hours. Avoid extreme set points that cause short cycling and humidity problems.
Tip 2: Seal Draughts First For Cheaper Comfort Year-Round
Draught-proofing delivers the best comfort-per-dollar return for most Australian homes. Sealing gaps and cracks can reduce winter heat loss by around 15% to 25% in existing dwellings. Focus on doors, window frames, exhaust fans, chimneys, and electrical outlets.
Use a smoke pencil or incense stick on windy days to find leaks at skirtings, architraves, and service penetrations. Install door bottom seals, compressible weatherstrips on frames, and back-draft dampers on exhaust fans. For unused fireplaces, chimney balloons provide an effective temporary block, but always maintain required ventilation for any gas appliances.
Tip 3: Top Up Ceiling Insulation To Stop Expensive Heat Loss
Properly specified insulation can halve your heating and cooling costs when correctly installed. The Australian Government's Your Home guide confirms that roof, wall, and floor insulation can deliver over 50% savings on space conditioning. However, performance collapses with gaps, compression, or thermal bridges.
Audit your existing batts for coverage and depth, aiming to meet or exceed National Construction Code (NCC) climate-zone minimums. For raised timber floors, underfloor insulation reduces winter draughts and cold-sink effects significantly. Always maintain clearances around recessed lights and exhaust fans, and have a licensed electrician inspect before adding insulation near wiring.
Tip 4: Control The Sun With External Shading and Quality Curtains
Managing solar gains cuts both summer cooling loads and winter heating demand. Well-designed external shading can block up to 90% of direct solar heat, dramatically reducing indoor temperatures and air conditioning requirements. High-quality curtains with pelmets reduce winter heat loss by limiting convection at windows.
For north-facing windows, size fixed eaves to summer sun angles while allowing winter solar access. East and west facades need adjustable awnings or exterior blinds to handle low-angle sun. Choose thermal-lined curtains that seal to walls at sides and top via pelmets, ensuring they just touch the floor to limit convective loops.
Tip 5: Upgrade To Better Glazing Where It Delivers Real Gains
Windows represent one of your home's biggest efficiency levers. Up to 40% of heating energy can be lost and up to 87% of heat gained through glazing. Double-glazed windows can reduce heat loss by up to 30% compared with single glazing when combined with proper sealing. In colder southern climates, upgrading to window double glazing through a supplier like Integra Windows reduces conductive heat loss and outside noise while improving comfort year-round.
Use WERS ratings to find low U-values for winter insulation and appropriate SHGCs by orientation. In colder southern zones, consider thermally broken aluminium or uPVC frames to cut conductive losses.
If you are renovating in stages, start with bedrooms and living areas, or use retrofit secondary glazing as a budget-friendly bridge. Better glazing also reduces winter draughts, radiant chill, and outside noise significantly.
Tip 6: Service HVAC Systems and Clean Filters To Avoid Waste
Neglected heating and cooling systems cost more to run and fail earlier. Federal testing found common faults like blocked coils, dirty filters, and incorrect refrigerant charge can increase energy use by 14% to 20%. Cleaning filters quarterly and scheduling professional service every two years maintains efficiency.
Rinse or vacuum return-air filters and set a quarterly calendar reminder. Trim vegetation and remove debris around outdoor units to maintain coil airflow. Book pre-season service with an ARC-licensed technician for coil cleaning and refrigerant checks.
Tip 7: Choose The Right Reverse-Cycle Split System For Your Space
Reverse-cycle air conditioners are Australia's most cost-effective heating option. These systems typically deliver 3 to 6 units of heating or cooling per unit of electricity, far outperforming resistive electric or unflued gas heating. Use the Zoned Energy Rating Label to compare climate-specific seasonal performance.
Prioritise heating stars and seasonal coefficient of performance (COP) for temperate climates where winter loads matter most. Right-sizing beats oversizing every time: perform a room heat loss calculation and consider multiple smaller units for better zoning. Correct refrigerant charge, careful flaring, and proper condensate drainage prevent efficiency losses.
Tip 8: Use Ceiling Fans With Your AC and Heater To Save
Ceiling fans complement HVAC systems at minimal cost. Fans reduce perceived temperature by about 3 degrees Celsius while costing only a couple of cents per hour to run. This allows you to set your AC higher without sacrificing comfort, compounding the 5% to 10% savings per degree.
In summer, run fans counter-clockwise to create cooling airflow. In winter, reverse to clockwise on low speed to push warm air down from the ceiling without creating draughts. DC motor fans use fewer watts and run quieter than AC motor models.
Tip 9: Switch To a Heat-Pump Hot Water System For Big Savings
Heat-pump water heaters represent a major bill-saving opportunity. These systems typically use around 30% of the electricity of conventional electric storage, delivering 60% to 75% savings in suitable conditions. They work especially well when paired with solar PV and timed for midday operation.
Size the tank for peak household demand and check sound levels for urban sites. Leverage Small-scale Technology Certificates and state rebates to reduce upfront costs. Run daytime cycles to absorb rooftop solar generation where available.
Tip 10: Swap Halogens For Quality LEDs To Cut Lighting Costs
LED upgrades deliver fast payback with minimal effort. LEDs use about 75% less energy than halogen lamps and often pay back within a year. Though lighting represents only 5% to 10% of household electricity, the swap is simple and cumulative across many fittings.
Choose 2700 to 3000 Kelvin warm white for living areas and 4000 Kelvin neutral for kitchens. Aim for a colour rendering index (CRI) of 80 or higher for natural colour rendering. Replace old iron-core transformers if flicker occurs, and check IC-rating and insulation clearances for downlights.
Tip 11: Tame Appliance Loads With Smarter Everyday Settings
Optimising existing appliances delivers ongoing savings without capital outlay. Set your fridge to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius and freezer to minus 15 to minus 18 degrees for optimal food safety and energy use. Standby power can account for up to 3% of household electricity costs.
Check door seals with the paper test and leave ventilation gaps around refrigeration units. Consider retiring the garage beer fridge unless it is high-efficiency, as older units often consume two to three times more than newer models. Use smart plugs to find hidden energy hogs in AV gear and gaming consoles.
Tip 12: Run Laundry Efficiently and Avoid Energy-Hungry Drying
Washing in cold water can use up to 10 times less energy than warm washes. Default to cold for most loads, choose eco cycles, and increase spin speed to extract more water before drying. Full loads and auto-stop sensors further reduce consumption without sacrificing results.
Line-drying remains the lowest-cost option by far. When using a dryer, heat-pump models reduce energy use by around 60% compared with conventional vented units. Clean lint filters regularly and run maintenance cycles to maintain efficiency.
Tip 13: Install Rooftop Solar PV To Offset Daytime Use
Australia has surpassed 4 million validated small-scale renewable systems. Typical homes save around $1,500 per year with rooftop solar, and Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) incentives can reduce upfront costs by about 30%. Size your system for daytime loads and planned electrification such as heat-pump hot water or electric vehicle (EV) charging.
Orient arrays to match demand patterns, using west or north-west tilt for late-afternoon loads if that is your peak period. Batteries make sense with steep time-of-use tariffs or frequent outages. Otherwise, prioritise load shifting to maximise solar self-consumption without the battery investment.
Tip 14: Make Pools Cheaper To Run With Efficient Pumps
In homes with pools, the pool pump can contribute around 18% of household electricity use. A 5-star variable-speed pump uses about 55% less energy than a 1-star single-speed model. Timer schedules and lower circulation speeds compound these savings significantly.
Run longer hours at low speed for filtration efficiency rather than short bursts at high speed. Keep skimmer baskets and filters clean to maintain hydraulic efficiency. Add a well-fitted pool cover to reduce evaporation and heating load.
Tip 15: Get a Home Energy Assessment To Target Upgrades
Professional assessments using blower-door testing and infrared cameras identify the most cost-effective fixes by measuring actual leakage and thermal bridges. The Residential Efficiency Scorecard is available nationally via accredited assessors. Book before renovations to capture low-cost fixes while access is open.
Lock In Comfort and Lower Bills This Year By Focusing On Fundamentals
The sequence matters: start with control and draught-proofing, then add insulation and shading, and finally invest in high-ROI electrification as budgets allow. Track results by comparing bills and runtime hours across seasons. With the right labels, skilled installers, and a prioritised approach, you can cut energy use significantly while improving comfort year-round.
For Mornington Peninsula households planning a new reverse-cycle split system, working with an ARC-licensed installer such as Savage Air helps with accurate heat-load calculations, thoughtful room zoning, and setting up maintenance reminders; if you're based near Frankston or bayside suburbs, book a trusted local team of installers who specialise in air conditioner Frankston so your system runs efficiently for years.
Follow a 30-Day Starter Plan For Quick, Lasting Wins
Week one focuses on control and comfort. Set thermostats to recommended ranges, close doors to zone living areas, and install door bottom seals on main rooms. Week two tackles lighting: swap your most-used halogens for LEDs and check dimmer compatibility.
Week three addresses laundry and fans. Switch to cold-wash by default and set ceiling fan directions for the current season. Week four covers appliances and maintenance: optimise fridge and freezer settings, clean HVAC filters, and book professional service before the next seasonal peak.
Post a Comment