A home with solar panels is not automatically an energy-efficient home.
Solar changes where some of your electricity comes from. Energy efficiency is about how much electricity your home needs in the first place.
The strongest approach can involve both.
Start With the Biggest Energy Users
Some household systems consume significantly more energy than others.
Heating and cooling, hot water, refrigeration, cooking and other major appliances can all contribute to household electricity demand.
Reducing unnecessary consumption can therefore have an impact before additional generation is considered.
Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling can be major contributors to household energy use.
Simple measures such as appropriate thermostat settings, insulation, window coverings and regular maintenance can help reduce the amount of energy required to maintain indoor comfort.
Hot Water
Hot water can account for a significant share of household energy use.
Energy.gov.au estimates that water heating can represent around 15–30% of household energy use, depending on circumstances.
Efficient hot water technology, including heat pumps, can therefore be an important part of an energy-efficiency strategy.
Lighting and Appliances
LED lighting can use less electricity than traditional lighting technologies.
Appliance efficiency also matters, particularly when equipment operates for long periods.
But replacing every appliance immediately is not always necessary. Energy efficiency upgrades should be considered alongside the age, condition and expected replacement cycle of the equipment.
Then Add Solar and Storage
Once energy consumption is understood, solar can help generate electricity locally.
A battery can store some excess generation for later use.
Energy management can then help coordinate when electricity is generated, consumed and stored.
Think Beyond One Product
A genuinely energy-efficient home is not created by one product.
It can be the result of several improvements working together:
Efficient appliances + efficient heating/cooling + efficient hot water + solar + storage + smart energy management
The right combination depends on the property.
Solar changes where some of your electricity comes from. Energy efficiency is about how much electricity your home needs in the first place.
The strongest approach can involve both.
Start With the Biggest Energy Users
Some household systems consume significantly more energy than others.
Heating and cooling, hot water, refrigeration, cooking and other major appliances can all contribute to household electricity demand.
Reducing unnecessary consumption can therefore have an impact before additional generation is considered.
Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling can be major contributors to household energy use.
Simple measures such as appropriate thermostat settings, insulation, window coverings and regular maintenance can help reduce the amount of energy required to maintain indoor comfort.
Hot Water
Hot water can account for a significant share of household energy use.
Energy.gov.au estimates that water heating can represent around 15–30% of household energy use, depending on circumstances.
Efficient hot water technology, including heat pumps, can therefore be an important part of an energy-efficiency strategy.
Lighting and Appliances
LED lighting can use less electricity than traditional lighting technologies.
Appliance efficiency also matters, particularly when equipment operates for long periods.
But replacing every appliance immediately is not always necessary. Energy efficiency upgrades should be considered alongside the age, condition and expected replacement cycle of the equipment.
Then Add Solar and Storage
Once energy consumption is understood, solar can help generate electricity locally.
A battery can store some excess generation for later use.
Energy management can then help coordinate when electricity is generated, consumed and stored.
Think Beyond One Product
A genuinely energy-efficient home is not created by one product.
It can be the result of several improvements working together:
Efficient appliances + efficient heating/cooling + efficient hot water + solar + storage + smart energy management
The right combination depends on the property.