A new home bill savings simulator developed by the Climate Council is helping Australian families combat sharply rising power bills with simple measures to efficiently heat and cool their homes.
The new energy how-to guide and calculator offers annual savings on electricity bills from $1000 to almost $3000, depending on the state or territory of residence. The savings measures are based on the Climate Council’s latest report, “Smarter Energy Use: How to Cut Energy Bills and Climate Harm”.
“Australian homes are woeful when it comes to energy efficiency, with the average house built roughly 20 years ago having a meagre 1.8-star energy rating on average,” says Climate Council senior researcher Dr Carl Tidemann.
“That’s little better than living in a tin shed, to be frank.
“Crappy energy efficiency has lumped millions of Australians with homes that are inefficient and expensive to run, and uncomfortable to live in: too hot in summer and too cold in winter with lots of outdated and energy-hungry appliances.
“We know Australians care about climate change and are worried about the cost of living and bill shock. The good news is you can tackle both these issues at the same time.”
Through a combination of electrification and getting off gas, and efficiency upgrades, Climate Council analysis shows the following potential annual household power bill savings across Australia’s major capital cities: Hobart, $2872; Canberra, $2707; Adelaide, $2174; Melbourne, $2170; Brisbane, $1588; Sydney, $1436; and Perth, $1085.
“Our online bill savings calculator will help people take the sting out of heating your home this winter,” says Dr Tidemann.
“Go to climatecouncil.org.au to work out how much money you can save by doing practical things such as sealing draughts and wall cavities, and insulating ceilings and walls. There are plenty of options for homeowners as well as renters.”