As power bills continue to soar, householders can work out the best ways to save money in their home using a how-to guide and nifty new home bill savings calculator developed by the Climate Council.
Climate Council senior researcher Dr Carl Tidemann said, “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. That’s little better than living in a tin shed, to be frank.
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“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inefficient and expensive to run, and uncomfortable to live in: too hot in summer and too cold in winter with lots of outdated and energy-hungry appliances.”
Dr Tidemann said too many households remained reliant on expensive gas, a fossil fuel which is also considered a health hazard in the home.
“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. And in fact, it may be easier than you think,” Dr Tidemann said.
“As winter looms, we’ve developed a useful online bill savings calculator which will help people take the sting out of heating your home this winter.”
Combining both electrification and practical efficiency upgrades, the Climate Council’s analysis shows an average Australian household would save between $1085 and $2,872 each year depending on the state or territory you live in.
As well as providing households with practical advice on slashing energy bills, the Climate Council is calling on all governments to provide urgent cost-of-living assistance so that families doing it tough can seize these benefits.
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This includes: providing zero-interest loans to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and insulate homes; ensuring newly-built residential homes are all-electric; and requiring the replacement of expensive and polluting gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives by 2025.
“All Australians deserve to live in a home that is safe, healthy and affordable to run. There are lots of practical ways that all levels of government—federal, state and local—can help them achieve this,” Dr Tidemann added.
