Sustainability
How to improve your energy efficiency at home
20-07-2023
One of the easiest ways to be more environmentally aware, reduce your carbon footprint and save money is to start with where you live. There are many small, simple things you can do to improve your energy efficiency at home, but they all add up to make a big difference.
Practicing environmental sustainability doesn’t have to be hard or painful; it can be as simple as turning off lights and appliances when you’re not using them. By getting into the habit of little daily practices, you’ll soon be contributing to a healthier, greener planet and decreasing your own impact on the environment.
When you’re replacing appliances, choose the most energy efficient ones – you’ll find the energy star rating on the front of each one – and switch them off at the power point when not in use. Switch off lights, fans and heaters if you leave the room for any length of time, and replace your light bulbs with LEDs (light emitting diodes) and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
Avoid using a clothes dryer. We have an abundance of sunshine in Australia, and your clothes will last longer and smell better when they’re dried in the fresh air.
When saving water, choose drought-tolerant plants for your garden and water in the cool of the evening or early morning to reduce evaporation. Use a water-saving shower head, and consider a tankless water heater that only heats the water you use. Avoid running the dishwasher or washing machine with only half a load; make sure it’s full to save water and energy.
Think about planting deciduous trees on the sunny side of the house. They’ll provide shade in summer, and in winter, when they lose their leaves, the sun will warm the house. Use thermal shades or curtains on the windows to keep the heat in or out, depending on the season. Install ceiling fans for summer cooling and to distribute the heat in winter.
Energy-efficient home design is a passive way you can ‘set and forget’ your environmental sustainability. By using well-placed double-glazed windows to maximise the sunlight, you can keep your home comfortably warm in winter without heating and enjoy cooling breezes in summer. Windows at opposite sides of the house can be opened to create a cross ventilation to cool the house after a hot summer’s day.
New homes and existing homes can benefit from insulation in floors, walls, and ceilings to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, saving a significant amount on energy bills.
Solar panels work towards a greener future for everyday Australians in the new homes we build. Every Arden home is proudly all-electric, solar powered and 100% carbon neutral at no extra cost. This forms part of our mission to make sustainable living accessible to everyone, without breaking the budget.Â
As the only volume builder in Victoria to include energy saving solar panels, double glazing, LED downlights and reverse-cycle heating and cooling in every home, our passion for clever, clean living means you can experience year-round comfort, and long-term savings while reducing your carbon footprint all at the same time.
Take a look at our stunning and innovative new home designs, or visit one of our display homes near you. For more information about our award-winning home contact us today.Â