HOME HABITS
Energy efficient behaviours, time-of-use tariffs and smart tech.
Optimise your energy use
The way we occupy our homes makes a big difference to our energy usage. Being mindful of when you use appliances, and adjusting your timing, can give you big savings on your energy bills. Understanding, measuring and monitoring your household energy usage lets you adjust your behaviour and optimise your energy use. Changing routines to respond to outdoor temperatures or time-of-use tariffs can significantly reduce energy use and bills without sacrificing comfort.
Lower energy bills
More comfortable homes
Emissions reduction
Energy efficient home habits reduce energy use, lowering bills and emissions at the same time. They also make your home more comfortable year round.
BENEFITS
PLANNNING AND PRACTICALITIES
Understand your energy use habits.The first step to improving home energy efficiency habits is knowing how and when you currently use energy.
Which appliances do you leave on all time? Can any of these be switched off when not in use?
Do you turn on the heating, air-con or clothes dryer without first checking to see if weather outside is nice?
When do you use major appliances like dishwashers, washing machines or pool pumps? Can you shift to Synergy’s Midday Saver Tariff and use major appliances outside 3-9pm?
Do you have a smart meter that allows you to see exactly when you’re using power and how much?
LETTING THE OUTSIDE IN
Manually ‘operating’ your home lets you take advantage of the weather outside when it’s lovely, and insulate against it when it’s not.Heating and cooling is the biggest use of energy at home (40%). To reduce your heating and cooling costs, get into the habit of closing windows and blinds on hot summer days and opening up at night, or as soon as the sea breeze comes in.
In winter, do the reverse. Close windows and blinds at night, and open up during the day when the sun is out.
Fans use very little power compared to air-con, so turn on ceiling or pedestal fans first. Using them at the same time as your air-con means you can set the air-con at a higher temperature, because a breeze feels cooling.
Try heating or cooling just the room you’re in, instead of the whole house. Reverse-cycle air-conditioners that service individual rooms are far more efficient than whole of house ducted air-con.
Set your air-con thermostat between:
22 - 26C in summer
18 - 22C in winter
For each 1°C the temperature is changed, energy use increases by 5 to 10%. Set it as high/low as is comfortable and leave it on.
Dry your clothes on the line outside, or on a clotheshorse inside if it’s raining.
SHFITING CONSUMPTION TIMES
During the day, when the sun is shining, cheap solar power floods the electricity grid. With your own rooftop solar, shifting major energy consumption during the day lets you make the most of the very cheap power you’re already generating.
Even if you don’t have your own rooftop solar, you can still take advantage of this cheap power by switching to Synergy’s Midday Saver Tariff. This time-of-use tariff charges less at off-peak times to encourage you to use up the ‘excess’ daytime solar:
Super Off Peak (9am - 3pm): 8.4 c/unit
Off Peak (9pm - 9am): 23.1 c/unit
Peak (3pm - 9pm): 52.5 c/unit
For comparison, Synergy’s Home Plan (A1), which you’re probably on now, charges a flat rate of 31.6 c/unit.
Synergy also has an Electric Vehicle Add On tariff which allows EV owners to charge their EV overnight (11pm - 6am) for 18.9 c/unit.
Switching to the Midday Saver requires a Smart Meter that can be remotely read and programmed. If you already have one, the switch is only $39.38. If you need a Smart Meter installed, it’s $105.93.
Switching to the Midday Saver Tariff and shifting electricity usage away from the evening could give you significant savings on your electricity bill.
To shift electricity use to ‘Super Off Peak’, electric hot water systems can be set to only heat stored water between 9am - 3pm. An electrician can install a digital or mechanical timer in your switchboard, if your system does not have an inbuilt timer.
Reverse cycle air-conditioners can be programmed to run between 9am - 3pm to cool the house down in advance of your return home. If you need more cooling in the evening, turn on ceiling or pedestal fans.
To reduce electricity use during the ‘Peak’ (3pm - 9pm), make sure your essential appliances are efficient. Upgrade all your lighting to LED globes. Avoid running dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers during this period.
The Midday Saver is a great option for renters and people living in apartments, who usually won’t be able to install rooftop solar or a battery.
SMART MONITORING AND AUTOMATION
Smart technology and automated devices can transform your home energy management, by giving you clear visibility over your usage and responding automatically.Smart Meters don’t just let Synergy track your usage remotely. They allow you to view your energy usage in 30 min internals to see exactly when you’re using power.
Western Power is installing Smart Meters (for free) in a suburb by suburb rollout. If you want a Smart Meter sooner, you can request an upgrade for a fee.
A personal Home Energy Monitoring System can provide you with even more data, showing energy use in real-time. Once you can see exactly when you’re using power, it’s much easier to make effective changes.
Rooftop solar and battery installations will usually be accompanied by a tracking feature that lets you see what you’re generating, exporting, storing or using at any given time.
Automated systems or smart devices can adjust power usage based on demand and conditions. For example, smart thermostats can adjust heating and cooling based on occupancy and time of day.
Automated lighting systems, smart plugs, appliances, blinds and even windows can all help you practice energy efficient home habits.
RESOURCES
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
WA's Household Energy Efficiency Scheme helps households experiencing financial hardship improve their energy efficiency.Eligible households receive tailored coaching and support to reduce energy consumption and costs.