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How to make your home energy efficient

An energy efficient home isn’t only better for the environment – it can also help you save money every month.

Making your home more energy efficient can:

  • save you money on your energy bills
  • lower your carbon footprint
  • help create a comfortable indoor living environment

How energy efficient is your home?

As well as checking your bills and overall energy usage, you can always conduct your own quick and simple home energy assessment. Just walk through your home and make a list of all the problems you see.

Check for: air leaks, insulation, ventilation, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, appliances and electronics.

This will give you an idea of where you currently stand.

Ways to make your home energy efficient

There are many ways you can save energy – from setting your air conditioning to 24°C or higher to choosing more efficient lightbulbs. 

But beyond these small changes, there’s plenty more you can do to make your home more energy efficient. 

Green Electricity Tariff

The Green Electricity Tariff (GET) is a local programme to help people lower their electricity consumption, and their carbon footprint.

With a GET programme you have the option of purchasing a low carbon electricity supply without having to install your own solar rooftop or other renewable energy source. 

Save more with energy-efficient appliances

From water heaters to washing machines, more and more household products and appliances are becoming energy efficient.

The energy efficient label was introduced in 2006 by the Energy Commission for appliances that comply with the standards and requirements of an energy performance test.

Using a 5-star appliance will reduce your electricity consumption and bills.

Cost effective ways to make your home green

  1. Adjust your air conditioning
    Set a timer control that will switch off your air conditioning every 2-3 hours.
  2. Use your windows
    Open your windows at night. If you’re concerned about security, rain or mosquitoes, then installing grilles, shadings and mosquito netting may help.
  3. Radiant cooling
    Install a radiant cooling system – this is where chilled water pipes around the perimeter of your home help keep the inside of the building cool.
  4. Choose lighter colours
    Lighter colours reflect heat better than darker colours, which absorb it.
  5. Reduce water usage
    Get rainwater harvesting tanks to reduce your need for portable water.

Generate your own renewable energy

Renewable energy is generated from sources such as the sun, wind or water and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.

Solar energy produces no emissions as it uses sunlight to create electricity. If you can afford to, installing solar panels will help reduce the amount of electricity you have to buy from the grid.

Ways to finance energy-saving home improvements

Personal savings

Using your savings can be a good option to fund home improvements, especially smaller projects.

You can also avoid paying interest and having to manage debt repayments. But it’s important to consider whether there are any charges for withdrawing your savings and whether you’ll have enough money left over for an emergency fund.  

Borrow money

You may be eligible for certain products that help you fund energy-saving home improvements, such as grants or loans. 

A personal loan allows you to spread the cost of a home improvement project, over a set period.

Our personal financing-i calculator can help you work out what your monthly payments could be.

Another option could be to borrow more money against your property to release some equity. This can help fund home improvements, like making your home more energy-efficient, which could also increase its value.

You'll need to think carefully about securing a loan against your home as it can be repossessed if you're unable to keep up with the repayments. 

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