On this page, you’ll find smart strategies to reduce your energy consumption and costs when lighting your home and when selecting and using appliances.
Light Emitting Diodes, known as LEDs, have now replaced most other light bulbs in our homes. Compared to the old incandescent bulb these not only cut electricity use by around 90% but they last 20 times longer, meaning that you don’t have to keep changing them.
Replacement LEDs can be found to fit most existing light fittings, and include many variations. To select the right bulbs for you, consider:
If you have any older types of lamps (incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)) now is the time to replace them with LEDS. Note that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and must be disposed of responsibly.
At the same time, replace any ferro-magnetic lamp ballasts, used for some downlights and fluorescent fittings, to electronic ballasts.
If you have fluorescent tubes (kitchens, garages, laundries), these can often be converted to LED tube equivalents, sometimes requiring the ballast to be bypassed or replaced. It is worth having an electrician check compatibility.
Task lighting: Use under-cabinet kitchen lights, reading lamps, desk lamps to light only the area you’re using, rather than lighting a whole room at high brightness for one small task.
Sensors and timers: for security lighting and spaces people forget to switch off, e.g. laundries, garages, outdoor areas, walk-in robes
Light-coloured walls and ceilings: reduce how much artificial light a room needs.
Skylight or solar tubes: used for internally-facing rooms (bathrooms, hallways) that rely on artificial light all day.
Garden lighting: solar garden/path lights allow you to avoid mains wiring costs entirely for low-load applications.
Did you know that some fridges, dishwashers or televisions use twice as much electricity as other equivalent models?
So, it pays to select the most energy-efficient options from the wide range of products available.
Many appliances carry the Australian energy label that enables shoppers to compare the performance of equivalent appliances in shops or online.
energyrating.gov.au is an easy-to-use tool to compare all appliance models for sale in Australia before you shop, and if you download it to your phone you can take it shopping with you.
Choice is another source of information on the energy performance of many household appliances.
Almost every appliance with a filter, coil, seal, or fan benefits from maintenance, because restricted airflow or heat exchange forces the appliance’s motor or compressor to work harder for the same result, using more energy and shortening its working life.
Reverse-cycle air conditioners / heat pumps: Clean filters every 1–3 months since a clogged filter can increase energy use by 15% or more and reduce cooling/heating output. Outdoor units also need clear airflow (no leaves, debris, plants crowding the unit) and periodic professional servicing (roughly every 1–2 years) to check refrigerant levels and coil condition.
Hot water systems (electric, heat pump, solar): Sacrificial anodes in storage tanks need periodic replacement to prevent corrosion; heat pump hot water units have filters/coils that benefit from cleaning.
Refrigerators and freezers: Door seals should be checked (a gap lets cold air escape, forcing the compressor to work harder); condenser coils at the back or underneath need dusting every 6–12 months, since dust buildup makes the compressor work harder for the same cooling.
Dishwashers: Clear filters to improve cleaning performance.
Clothes dryers: Clear lint filters to dry more efficiency and reduce risks of fire.
Washing machines: Clean detergent drawers and door seals to prevent mould and maintain performance.
Pools are one of the biggest energy users in a home, but there’s lots that you can do to reduce their running cost.
Replacing older single-speed pumps can cut pool pump energy use by 50–80%, saving as much as $6,000 in electricity costs over 10 years. Search here to understand how to find the most efficient pool pumps in Australia.
