Aussie families could save an average of $2000 on their power bills with a combination of simple measures that more efficiently heat and cool their homes. 

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 simulator developed by the Climate Council. 

The full details are outlined in a new report: Smarter energy use: how to cut energy bills and climate harm.

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.

“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inefficient and expensive to run, and uncomfortable to live in: too hot in summer and too cold in winter with lots of outdated and energy-hungry appliances.”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 remain reliant on eye-wateringly expensive gas, which is a health hazard in the home and a potent fossil fuel that’s accelerating climate change. 

“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.

“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. Go to the Climate Council’s website to work out how much money you can save by doing practical things like sealing draughts and wall cavities, and insulating ceilings and walls. There are plenty of options for homeowners, as well as renters.”

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. 

For capital cities*, the total annual potential savings on power bills from getting off gas and efficiency upgrades are: 

• Hobart: $2872
• Canberra: $2707
• Adelaide: $2174
• Melbourne: $2170
• Brisbane: $1588
• Sydney: $1436
• Perth: $1085

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. 

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. 

—

For interviews please contact: Jane Gardner at  0438 130 905/ jane.gardner@climatecouncil.org.au or Zerene Catacutan on 0438 972 260/ zerene.catacutan@climatecouncil.org.au 

The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.

For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au

Or follow us on social media: facebook.com/climatecouncil and twitter.com/climatecouncil

*Note: Data necessary to do calculations for Darwin households was unavailable.