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TIPSFORENERGYSAVINGINOLDANDNEWHOMES

NOTE:Thefollowinginformationisintendedasaroughguideonlytoimprovingefficiencyofhomeenergyuse,andhencetoreducinggreenhousegasemissions.Usersareadvisedtoobtainprofessionaladviceforallrenovationandtechnicaltasksintheirhome,fortheirownsafetyandtoensurethestructuralintegrityofbuildings.

Tenmostcost-effectivesteps,takeninanyorder:

1. Applypassivedesignprinciplesinsitingandlater2. ReplaceoldlightswithLEDs3. Stopdraughts4. Improveinsulation5. Upgradewindows6. Useenergy-efficientappliances7. Installreverse-cycleair-conditioning,forheatingand

cooling8. Usesolarorheat-pumpsystemsforwaterheating9. Monitorandcontrolenergyuse10. Solarpanelstogenerateyourelectricity.

AdaptedforBallarat,fromresearchinBeyondZeroEmissionsBuildingsPlan-SeeBZEbook:“EnergyFreedomHouse”–availabletopurchasefromhttp://bze.org.au/product/energy-freedom-home-book/

Renovatorsoftenoverlookmeasureswhichimproveenergyefficiency

Category Energysaving‘opportunitiesmissed Percentmissedopportunity(%)

Insulation Noinsulationfittedtosuspendedfloors 72 Noinsulationfittedtoexternalwalls 60

Incompleteceilinginsulation(Gaps) 30

Noinsulationunderrooftiles 30Draughtproofing Doorsealsmissing 30 Nodampersonexhaustfans 10 Nochimneydampersfitted 5Windows Areasofunprotectedwesternwindows 20 Inefficientnewwindows/frames 15Lighting Inefficientlightingchoices 50[But–besuretocheckthecostsandbenefitsofeachoption]

FromVictorianHouseholdEnergyReport2016.http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/-/media/resources/documents/services-and-advice/households/energyefficiency/rse014-households-energy-report_web.pdf?la=enSeealso:Australia’sguidetobuilding,buyingorrenovatingahomehttp://www.yourhome.gov.au/

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Windows

• Use closely woven, close-fitting curtains or blinds • Ensure there’s a snug fit on both sides of the window and at the

top of the curtain to stop warm air from moving down behind the curtain and cooling

• Install boxed pelmets or solid barriers above the curtain rail, or position the curtain within the window space

• Use curtain tracks that provide a return of curtain to the wall to create a seal

• Close curtains or blinds when you have the heating on, especially at night – by leaving curtains or blinds open, you're wasting money and energy

To keep the heat in, consider

• Internal window coverings • Double glazing • Secondary glazing • Material used for window frames

To keep the heat out in summer, consider

• Shading external windows • Glass coatings and films

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Daily behaviour to save energy:

1. Dress for the weather – in winter, wear extra layers inside and lower your heating thermostat. By setting your heating thermostat between 18-20°C, you can decrease your running costs by 10% or more. In summer, wear lighter clothing and keep your air conditioner’s thermostat between 24°C – 26°C.

2. Only heat or cool and light rooms you are using. Where possible, zone your lighting and ducted heating or cooling and close off doors to unoccupied rooms. Set your thermostat with care: With heating, every degree above 18oC adds 10% to your bill; with cooling, every degree below 26oC adds 10% to your bill.

3. By washing your clothes in cold water and drying on a line or rack, you can save up to $100* a year.

4. Compare your electricity suppliers to check you are getting the best deal on your rates at switchon.vic.gov.au.

Appliances - how to save energy

1. Your fridge runs 24 hours a day 365 days a year. This adds up and makes it the most expensive appliance to run. Make sure that the door seal is tight and free from gaps so cold air doesn't escape. If you have a second fridge, give it a winter break - just turn it on when you need it. Reduce fridge contents to a minimum, but keep your freezer full

2. Consider using energy efficient light globes, such as LEDs as an alternative to general lighting and avoid halogen downlights

3. Switch off appliances not in use, at the wall. The cost of appliances which are switched on and not being used (on standby) can add over $100 on your annual power bill.

4. Have a free standby power controller installed to save money and electricity. Standby power controllers automatically cut off power to your electronic devices when you switch them to stand-by mode by pressing the on/off button on your remote control. For a list of accredited installers go to www.veet.vic.gov.au.

5. When buying, get the highest star rating practicable.

More information about this: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/toolbox/how-to/keep-heat-in

Air losses though ceilings can cause high energy bills - so ‘Seal your ceiling‘ Hotairfromheatersrises,soanyleaksthroughtheceilingresultinheatlossandhigherheatingcosts. Commoncauseofloss Simplesolutions Poorinsulationaboveceiling IncreasethicknesstoR6orhigher Unsealedexhaustfans Installeffectivedraftstoppers Unsealeddown-lights InstallLEDbulbsandSealvents Skylightswithventsorleaks Sealleaksanddoubleglaze Oldairventsthatarenownotneeded Sealoldvents Unsealedjointsbetweenwalls,floorandceiling Sealandinsulateallwallcorners

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UNDERSTANDTHEHEATTRANSFERQUALITIESOFALLYOURHOUSINGMATERIALSTableofR-valuesandU-values–Forcommonhousingmaterials/componentsRValueistheThermalResistance–e.g.usedforceilingInsulation.ThehighertheRvaluethebetter.UValueisHeatTransfervalue–e.g.usedinwindowmaterials.ThelowertheUvaluethebetter.

Wallmaterials Rvalue Uvalue Floor,roof,ceiling&windowmaterials Rvalue Uvalue

Weatherboardwall 0.55 1.8 Floorboards(19mm)pluscarpet&underlay 0.12 8.33Brickveneerwall 0.51 1.86 Sarkingwith200mmstaticairgap 1.1 0.9Brickveneerwith75mmbatt 2.0 0.5 Concreteslab150mmthick 0.104 9.6Brickveneerw10mmaerogelblanket 1.2 0.83 Glasswoolbatts(175mmthick) 3.5 0.28Cavitydoublebrickwall 0.53 1.88 Aeratedblanket(10mmthick) 0.7 1.42CavityDoublebrickwallwithlose-fillorpolyurethaneinsulation

1.4 0.71 Tiledroof(tilesalone)Metalroof(alone)

0.020.01-

43.4100+

Solidbrickwall(230mm) 0.44 2.27 Singlepaneclearglass(3mm) 0.18 5.4Solidbrickwall(300mm) 1.5 0.66 *SinglePerspexpane(3mm) 0.19 5.2Solidstonewall(300mmthick) 0.4 2.8 SinglepaneLowEglass 0.27 3.7Solidstonewall(300mmthick)withplasterboard&sarkinginside

1.5 0.66 Doubleglazingwith16mmairgapD-glazedunitwithLowEcoating

0.380.55

2.61.6

Solidconcretewall(200mmthick) 0.30 3.33 D-glazedunitwithLowEcoatingand16mmargon-filledgap

0.62

1.6

Aeratedconcretewall(100mmblock) 0.78 1.28 Centreofframedwindowpanedata Aeratedconcretewall(200mmblock) 1.54 0.65 *Aluminium‘frameunit’singlepane 0.14 7Mudbrickwall(300mmblock) 0.40 2.5 *Alum.‘frameunit’D-glazed12mmgap 0.28 3.5Plasterboard10mmthick 0.06 16.6 *Wood/PVCframeunitsinglepane 0.18 5.5Solidwoodendoor(12mmthick) 3.0 *Wood/PVCframeunitD-glazed12mm 0.4 2.5DatamainlyfromMarshAD(2001)SustainabilityandtheoldAustralianhouse.*Datafromothersources.TheUValueistheInverseofRvalue.Divide1byeithertheRorUvaluetoconverttotheotherunit.ForinstanceasubstancewithanR-Valueof2hasaU-Valueof0.5=(1dividedby2)Heatlossthroughwindow(fore.g.)iscalculatedby:Watts=AreaxUvaluexTempDifference(diffbetweenoutside&insidetemperature

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