Advanced Technology - Home Energy Audit (2015 5 27)

Do your own
home energy audit

Are you spending too much on your energy bills?
Find out how you use energy in the home and
what you can do to start saving
www.sa.gov.au/energysmart
0.0
2 Do your own home energy audit
Do your own home energy audit 3

Heating
& cooling
How to complete your home energy audit
Heating and cooling
Completing the audit is easy. Read the questions in the What do you do at home? column
and tick off your answers in the yes or no arrow boxes. If you answer no, follow the advice in
the What you can do to save energy column. Saving energy includes the actions of everyone who
lives in your home, so you may want to involve others when you complete your audit.
What do you do at home?
Ask yourself, is this what I normally do at

home? If the answer is yes, youre already
doing the energy smart thing. If the
answer is no, you could make savings by
following the advice in the What you can
do to save energy column.
Most
efficient
Least
efficient
Yes
No
Do you only heat and cool rooms

that are being used?
Yes
No
In winter, do you open curtains, blinds

and external shades so the sun can
heat your home?
Yes
No
Yes
When heating, do you set the
temperature as low as you feel
Water heating
comfortable with?
HeatingDo& you
cooling
maintain your heating and
No
Yes
No
Follow the manufacturers maintenance instructions and

have your appliances serviced regularly.
Yes
No
Most people will find a temperature between

24C and 27C comfortable for cooling.
cooling appliances to ensure they

operate efficiently?
When cooling, do you set the
temperature as high as you
feel comfortable with?
In summer, do you shade windows to
keep your home cool?
Yes
No
38%
Stand-by
power
Yes
a heating or cooling
7 When you purchase
Entertainment
Lighting
appliance do you
seek advice about:
electronics
Clothes washing,
the most appropriate appliance
the right size appliance dish washing &
small
appliances
the energy rating label or,
if there
No
Lighting
4%
Water
heating
25%
In summer, close curtains and shade windows to

prevent heat from entering your home.
Sunlight shining directly onto north, east and west facing
windows can produce the same amount of heat per
square metre as a one bar radiator.
Use a compass or refer to you street directory or online
maps to determine the direction your windows face.
The most efficient heating or cooling appliance is one
that is suitable for the area it is heating or cooling and,
where relevant, has been sized appropriately.
Do you use reversible ceiling fans

to assist your heating and cooling
appliances?
Yes
No
Reversible ceiling fans create cool breezes in summer

and can redirect warm air down in winter.
Does your home have insulation?
Yes
No
Consider having insulation installed in your ceiling and

walls if you dont have it.
If you have insulation already, ask a licensed insulation
installer to check its effectiveness.
7%
10
Fridges
& freezers 7%
*Data based on Baseline Energy Estimates 2008.
Every 1C lower adds 10% to the running costs

of your cooling appliance.
Consider contacting the Energy Advisory Service for

specific advice tailored to your situation. See the back
page for contact details.
is no label, the running costs?
Cooking

18C and 21C comfortable for heating.
Every 1C higher adds 10% to the running costs
of your heating appliance.
Cooking
3%
Use the sun as free heating in cooler months.

Fridges & freezers
Stand-by
power
Other
appliances
Use a compass or refer to your street directory or online

maps to determine which direction your windows face.
What uses energy in the home?
Heating
& cooling
Fridges
& freezers
Consider closing doors to unused rooms so you only

heat or cool the smallest possible area.
If you have a ducted system it may already be divided

into zones eg living areas and bedrooms. Make use of
zones to only heat or cool occupied areas.
Tick off your answers to each question.
The pie chart below shows the average energy use in an Australian home.* When saving energy start
by focussing on the largest energy users.
Water
heating
What you can do to save energy
Follow the advice in this column to help you save energy

at home and minimise your energy bills.
When youre finished, youll have a handy

checklist of energy saving actions for your home.
Cooking
Lighting
The information icon shows there is more

information to help you with these actions
on page 6. To complete some of the actions
you may need a stopwatch, bucket,
thermometer and a map or compass.
38%
Heating and cooling can account for over a third of your energy use.
Where you see the house icon, if you are renting

you should ask your landlord before making the
suggested changes.
Stand-by
power
Other
appliances 16%
Have you sealed up gaps

around doors and windows
that let draughts in?
Yes
No
Use draught excluders, door and window seals or gap

filler to prevent draughts. See page 6 for how to check
for draughts.
Important: When using an unflued gas appliance you
must ensure you have adequate ventilation.
0.0

Heating
& cooling
How to complete your home energy audit
Heating and cooling
Completing the audit is easy. Read the questions in the What do you do at home? column
and tick off your answers in the yes or no arrow boxes. If you answer no, follow the advice in
the What you can do to save energy column. Saving energy includes the actions of everyone who
lives in your home, so you may want to involve others when you complete your audit.
Ask yourself, is this what I normally do at

home? If the answer is yes, youre already
doing the energy smart thing. If the
answer is no, you could make savings by
following the advice in the What you can
do to save energy column.
Most
efficient
Least
efficient
Yes
No
Do you only heat and cool rooms

that are being used?
Yes
No
In winter, do you open curtains, blinds

and external shades so the sun can
heat your home?
Yes
Yes
When heating, do you set the
temperature as low as you feel
Water heating
comfortable with?
HeatingDo& you
cooling
maintain your heating and
What uses energy in the home?

5
Stand-by
power
cooling appliances to ensure they

operate efficiently?
When cooling, do you set the
temperature as high as you
feel comfortable with?
Yes
No
No
Yes
In summer, do you shade windows to

keep your home cool?
Yes
No
Follow the manufacturers maintenance instructions and

have your appliances serviced regularly.
No

24C and 27C comfortable for cooling.
No
Cooking
Stand-by
power
Yes
a heating or cooling
7 When you purchase
Entertainment
Lighting
appliance do you
seek advice about:
electronics
Clothes washing,
the most appropriate appliance
the right size appliance dish washing &
small
appliances
the energy rating label or,
if there
Lighting
4%
Water
heating
25%
No
*Data based on Baseline Energy Estimates 2008.
In summer, close curtains and shade windows to

prevent heat from entering your home.
Use a compass or refer to you street directory or online
maps to determine the direction your windows face.
The most efficient heating or cooling appliance is one
that is suitable for the area it is heating or cooling and,
where relevant, has been sized appropriately.
Consider contacting the Energy Advisory Service for
specific advice tailored to your situation. See the back
page for contact details.
Do you use reversible ceiling fans

to assist your heating and cooling
appliances?
Yes
No
Reversible ceiling fans create cool breezes in summer

and can redirect warm air down in winter.
Does your home have insulation?
Yes
No
Consider having insulation installed in your ceiling and

walls if you dont have it.
10
Other
appliances 16%
Every 1C lower adds 10% to the running costs

of your cooling appliance.
7%
Fridges
& freezers 7%

18C and 21C comfortable for heating.
Every 1C higher adds 10% to the running costs
of your heating appliance.
is no label, the running costs?
Cooking
Use the sun as free heating in cooler months.

38%
3%
Other
appliances
If you have a ducted system it may already be divided

into zones eg living areas and bedrooms. Make use of
zones to only heat or cool occupied areas.
Fridges & freezers
Heating
& cooling
Fridges
& freezers
Consider closing doors to unused rooms so you only

heat or cool the smallest possible area.
Use a compass or refer to your street directory or online

maps to determine which direction your windows face.
Tick off your answers to each question.
The pie chart below shows the average energy use in an Australian home.* When saving energy start
by focussing on the largest energy users.
Water
heating
Follow the advice in this column to help you save energy

at home and minimise your energy bills.
When youre finished, youll have a handy

checklist of energy saving actions for your home.
Cooking
Lighting
The information icon shows there is more

information to help you with these actions
on page 6. To complete some of the actions
you may need a stopwatch, bucket,
thermometer and a map or compass.
38%
Heating and cooling can account for over a third of your energy use.
Where you see the house icon, if you are renting

you should ask your landlord before making the
suggested changes.
Stand-by
power
Have you sealed up gaps

around doors and windows
that let draughts in?
Yes
If you have insulation already, ask a licensed insulation

installer to check its effectiveness.
No
Use draught excluders, door and window seals or gap

filler to prevent draughts. See page 6 for how to check
for draughts.
Important: When using an unflued gas appliance you
must ensure you have adequate ventilation.
Heating & cooling

0.0
0.0
Fridges & freezers
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Water heating
25%
Heating water for showers and clothes washing is a major energy user.
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
Fridges and freezers
Lighting
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances
Average home energy use

of fridges and freezers
Cooking

Fridges
& freezers
Other
appliances
Do you take short showers

ie three to four minutes?
Yes
No
Taking shorter showers will save water and reduce the

energy needed to heat water.
Do you have a solar, electric heat pump

or a five star energy rated gas water
heater?
Yes
No
Choose an energy efficient water heater when your current

water heater needs replacing. Visit sa.gov.au/energy for
advice on choosing a water heater.
Is there insulation on external

water heater pipes?
Yes
Is your shower flow rate nine

litres per minute or less?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Only run additional fridges and freezers when necessary

eg a bar fridge could be turned off when not required.
When you purchased your fridge

and freezer did you choose an
efficient model that was the right
size for your needs?
Yes
No
When you replace your old fridge or freezer choose an

energy efficient one.
Is your fridge temperature

between 3C and 5C?
Yes
No
Adjust your fridge temperature to between 3C and 5C.

If colder, more energy is used while higher temperatures
allow food poisoning bacteria to grow.
See page 6 for how to check the temperature.
Is your freezerWatertemperature
heating
between -15C and -18C?
Yes
No
Adjust your freezer temperature to between

-15C and -18C.
See1.0page 6 for how to check the temperature.
Are your fridges and freezers located

Fridges & area
freezers and
in a cool, well ventilated
out of direct sunlight?
Yes
No
Move
0.8 unit to a cooler location if possible or shade
windows to stop direct sunlight. Average home
Do you ensure taps dont drip

in your home?
Yes
No
If the flow rate is more than nine litres per minute, consider
0.4
installing
a three star rated water saving shower head.
To find out how to check your shower flow rate,
see 0.2page 6.
Choose the right size fridge first then select the model
with a high star rating on the energy rating label.
Heating & cooling
0.0
Have
dripping taps fixed as soon as possible.
Not only do they waste water, leaking hot water taps
waste energy too.
5
6
Stand-by
power
Other appliances
16%
Running costs for all the appliances in a home can add up.
Stand-by
Do your fridge and freezer
power
doors
seal
properly?
Entertainment Lighting
electronics
Cooking
Water
heating
use of
Yes
No
0.4
Replace
door seals if ineffective. heating and
See page 6 for how to check your door seals.
cooling
0.2
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances
Is there less than 5mm of frost build

up in your freezer?
0.6
Ensure
air can circulate around all sides.
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Other
appliances
Fridges
& freezers
Do you run one fridge

and freezer?
1.0
Insulate pipes with foam tubing, known as lagging, to

prevent
heat loss. See page 6 for how to insulate hot
0.8
water pipes.
0.6
No
Water
heating
Lighting
7%
Most fridges and freezers are switched on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Water
heating
Lighting
Stand-by
power
Yes
No
Defrost your freezer regularly. An auto defrost model

should do this automatically.
0.0
Lighting
Do you know how much power

your appliances use?
Do you use the energy rating labels

to compare running costs when you
purchase appliances?

Yes
Yes
No
No
Fridges
& freezers
If you know the input power of an appliance (eg 1500

watts or 1.5kW) you can calculate how much it costs to
run. See page 7.
You can also borrow a power meter from the Home
Energy Toolkit. See page 10.
Do you you run your dishwasher and

washing machine with a full load?
Yes
No
Washing a full load means fewer washes overall and

reduces the amount of wasted energy and water.
Do you always wash clothes on a

cold water cycle?
Yes
No
Cold water cycles will use less energy than warm or hot
cycles. The majority of energy used by clothes washers is
for heating water.
Do you hang your clothes out to dry?
Yes
No
Clothes dryers can use a lot of energy. Hanging clothes

out to dry is more energy efficient. Clean your lint filter
regularly to ensure your dryer is operating efficiently.
When you purchased your clothes

washer or dryer, did you select an
energy efficient model that was the
right size for your needs?
Yes
No
Consider an energy efficient model when you replace your

old clothes washer or dryer.
Lighting

Make a habit of switching off lights when you leave a room.
Consider the ongoing running cost when choosing an

appliance. Energy efficient models will cost you less to run
over the life of the appliance.
Heating
& cooling
Other
appliances
Stand-by
power
7%
Cooking
Water
heating
Lighting

Fridges
& freezers
Other
appliances
Do you turn off lights when you

leave a room?
Yes
No
Leaving lights on in an empty room wastes energy and

adds to your bills. Make a habit of turning off lights.
Do you open curtains and blinds to use

daylight instead of turning on lights?
Yes
No
Daylight costs you nothing. Open curtains and blinds

before turning on a light.
Do you have energy efficient lights eg fluorescents (compact, tubes or

downlights)
Yes
No
Consider replacing inefficient lights with

energy efficient lights.
If you have outdoor lighting, is it

operated by motion sensors?
Yes
No
If you regularly leave your outdoor lights on, consider

installing sensor lights so they only come on with
movement and turn off after a short period.
Do you use low wattage lights?
Yes
No
Select a light with the lowest wattage for your needs

it costs less to run.
Heating & cooling

0.0
0.0
Fridges & freezers
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Water heating
25%
Heating water for showers and clothes washing is a major energy user.
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
Fridges and freezers
Lighting
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances

Cooking

Fridges
& freezers
Other
appliances
Yes
No
Taking shorter showers will save water and reduce the

energy needed to heat water.
Do you have a solar, electric heat pump

or a five star energy rated gas water
heater?
Yes
No
Choose an energy efficient water heater when your current

water heater needs replacing. Visit sa.gov.au/energy for
advice on choosing a water heater.
Is there insulation on external

water heater pipes?
Yes
Is your shower flow rate nine

litres per minute or less?
Yes
No
No
Only run additional fridges and freezers when necessary

eg a bar fridge could be turned off when not required.
When you purchased your fridge

and freezer did you choose an
efficient model that was the right
size for your needs?
Yes
No
When you replace your old fridge or freezer choose an

energy efficient one.
Is your fridge temperature

between 3C and 5C?
Yes
No
Adjust your fridge temperature to between 3C and 5C.

If colder, more energy is used while higher temperatures
allow food poisoning bacteria to grow.
See page 6 for how to check the temperature.
Is your freezerWatertemperature
heating
between -15C and -18C?
Yes
No
Adjust your freezer temperature to between

-15C and -18C.
See1.0page 6 for how to check the temperature.
Are your fridges and freezers located

Fridges & area
freezers and
in a cool, well ventilated
out of direct sunlight?
Yes
No
Move
0.8 unit to a cooler location if possible or shade
windows to stop direct sunlight. Average home
Do you ensure taps dont drip

in your home?
Yes
No
If the flow rate is more than nine litres per minute, consider
0.4
installing
a three star rated water saving shower head.
To find out how to check your shower flow rate,
see 0.2page 6.
4
5
6
Stand-by
power
16%
Running costs for all the appliances in a home can add up.
Choose the right size fridge first then select the model
with a high star rating on the energy rating label.
Stand-by
Do your fridge and freezer
power
doors
seal
properly?
Entertainment Lighting
electronics
Cooking
Water
heating
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances
Is there less than 5mm of frost build

up in your freezer?
Yes
Yes
0.6
Ensure
air can circulate around all sides.
use of
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Other appliances
Heating & cooling
0.0
Have
dripping taps fixed as soon as possible.
Not only do they waste water, leaking hot water taps
waste energy too.
Other
appliances
Fridges
& freezers
Yes
1.0
Insulate pipes with foam tubing, known as lagging, to

prevent
heat loss. See page 6 for how to insulate hot
0.8
water pipes.
Do you run one fridge

and freezer?
0.6
No
Water
heating
Lighting
Do you take short showers

ie three to four minutes?
7%
Most fridges and freezers are switched on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Water
heating
Lighting
Stand-by
power
0.4
Replace
door seals if ineffective. heating and
See page 6 for how to check your door seals.
No
cooling
0.2
No
Defrost your freezer regularly. An auto defrost model

should do this automatically.
0.0
Lighting
Do you know how much power

your appliances use?
Do you use the energy rating labels

to compare running costs when you
purchase appliances?

Yes
Yes
No
No
Fridges
& freezers
Heating
& cooling
Other
appliances
If you know the input power of an appliance (eg 1500

watts or 1.5kW) you can calculate how much it costs to
run. See page 7.
You can also borrow a power meter from the Home
Energy Toolkit. See page 10.
Lighting
Make a habit of switching off lights when you leave a room.
Consider the ongoing running cost when choosing an

appliance. Energy efficient models will cost you less to run
over the life of the appliance.
Do you you run your dishwasher and

washing machine with a full load?
Yes
No
Washing a full load means fewer washes overall and

reduces the amount of wasted energy and water.
Do you always wash clothes on a

cold water cycle?
Yes
No
Cold water cycles will use less energy than warm or hot
cycles. The majority of energy used by clothes washers is
for heating water.
Do you hang your clothes out to dry?
Yes
No
Clothes dryers can use a lot of energy. Hanging clothes

out to dry is more energy efficient. Clean your lint filter
regularly to ensure your dryer is operating efficiently.
When you purchased your clothes

washer or dryer, did you select an
energy efficient model that was the
right size for your needs?
Yes
No
Consider an energy efficient model when you replace your

old clothes washer or dryer.

Stand-by
power
7%
Cooking
Water
heating
Lighting

Fridges
& freezers
Other
appliances
Do you turn off lights when you

leave a room?
Yes
No
Leaving lights on in an empty room wastes energy and

adds to your bills. Make a habit of turning off lights.
Do you open curtains and blinds to use

daylight instead of turning on lights?
Yes
No
Daylight costs you nothing. Open curtains and blinds

before turning on a light.
Do you have energy efficient lights eg fluorescents (compact, tubes or

downlights)
Yes
No
Consider replacing inefficient lights with

energy efficient lights.
If you have outdoor lighting, is it

operated by motion sensors?
Yes
No
If you regularly leave your outdoor lights on, consider

installing sensor lights so they only come on with
movement and turn off after a short period.
Do you use low wattage lights?
Yes
No
Select a light with the lowest wattage for your needs

it costs less to run.
Heating & cooling

0.0
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Stand-by
power
Cooking
4%
Use smaller cooking appliances when you can.
1.0
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
1
2
Do you use small kitchen appliances

instead of the oven eg microwaves,
electric fry pans?
0.6
What
you can do to save energy
Yes
Yes
No
Fridges
& freezers
0.4
Replace
door seals if ineffective.
Water heating
The most accurate
way to find an appliances running cost is
toHeating
use& cooling
an appliance power meter. You can borrow a power
meter in the Home Energy Toolkit free of charge from most
public libraries in South Australia. See page 10.
0.0
Smaller appliances generally use less energy.
For a list of average running

costs of household appliances
Fridges & freezers
see www.sa.gov.au/energy/runningcosts.
Stand-by
power
3%
Stand-by power
Switch off at the wall to avoid stand-by power costs.
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
Water
heating
Do you leave appliances on stand-by

eg televisions, stereos, computers?
No
Find the appliances input power in

watts or megajoules
You can check for draughts by:

looking for daylight around the edges of doors
and windows
looking for gaps around skirting boards
feeling draughts on a wet finger.
How to insulate hot water pipes

You can purchase foam tubing from hardware and plumbing
stores. Look for one which has been cut along its length and
has a self-sealing adhesive strip.
To install:
slide the foam tubing onto the external heater pipes
peel off the adhesive strip and join the sides together.
Check your shower flow rate

You will need:
a bucket and something to measure water volume
such as a measuring jug
a stopwatch (available in the Home Energy Toolkit).
Turn the water on full and let it flow into a bucket
for ten seconds.
Measure the amount of water in litres.
Multiply by six to determine the flow rate in litres.
Step
Action
Label shows 2400kW
Divide 2400W by 1,000 = 2.4kW
Convert input power to kilowatts (kW) or

megajoules (MJ) if necessary
Check your bill for your energy tariff if you are

unsure you can use 30 cents per kWh for electricity
One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts,

so divide watts by 1,000 to give kilowatts
Multiply the input power by the energy tariff

2.4 x 30 = 72 cents per hour
If the heater is turned on 10 hours per day*:

10 x 72 cents = $7.20 a day
The watts or megajoules will usually be on a label

on the appliance or in the owners manual
Fridges
& freezers
Turn appliances off at the wall to prevent stand-by

power use.
On small electrical appliances the amps and volts

may be indicated instead. Multiply the amps by the
volts to get watts
Other
appliances
You can use the power meter in the Home Energy

Toolkit to measure stand-by power use. See page 10.
eg: 2,400 watts = 2.4 kilowatts
More information
How to check for draughts
Clothes washing,
dish washing &

Action
small appliances

Yes
Lighting
Step
Lighting
Cooking
Follow the steps in the tables
below to calculate the running
Stand-by
power
costs of electric or gas appliances.
Heating
& cooling
Example: Portable electric heater
Not all appliances operate constantly at full power. Appliances

with high and low settings or thermostats can use less energy.
Other
appliances
See0.2below for more information on checking door seals.

No
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances
Knowing the running cost of an appliance will help to keep

track of how much you are spending on energy.
Lighting
Lighting
How to calculate running costs
Water
heating
0.8
Does your oven door seal properly?
Fridges & freezers
One megajoule equals 1,000,000 joules,

so divide joules by 1,000,000 to give megajoules
eg: 3,200,000 joules = 3.2 megajoules
Shower flow rate example:
Water flow in 10 seconds = 2 litres
2 litres x 6 = 12 litres in 60 seconds
Flow rate is 12 litres per minute.
You will need:
If you are unsure you can use an average tariff of 30

cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity and 2 cents
per megajoule for gas
a thermometer
Leave the thermometer in the closed fridge or freezer for

about 30 minutes and then observe the temperature.
How to check door seals on

fridges, freezers and ovens
Close the door on a piece of paper. The door seal should be
strong enough to firmly grip it. Check in several places around
the edge of the door.
Look for sections that are cracked and brittle or pressed out
of shape.
If the paper slides out easily, or the seal is damaged,
consider having it replaced.
Check your bill for your energy tariff the

amount you pay per unit of electricity or gas
For electric appliances, use the Peak rate as most
appliances, besides hot water systems, will be
charged at this rate. See page 8 for advice on
reviewing your energy bill
Check your fridge or freezer temperature
Place your thermometer below the top shelf and towards

the front of the fridge, or anywhere in the freezer.
Example: Gas space heater

to get the hourly running cost in cents per hour, eg:
2.4 kW x 30 cents = 72 cents per hour, or
3.2 MJ x 2 cents = 6.4 cents per hour
Step
Action
Multiply the hourly running cost by the number

of hours per day you run the appliance
to get a daily running cost, eg:
Label shows 24MJ per hour on low setting
Convert joules to megajoules (MJ) by dividing by

1,000,000. In this case no conversion required
To compare an electric heater to a gas heater, it may be useful

to convert megajoules to kilowatts or vice versa.

unsure use 2 cents per MJ for gas
To convert megajoules to kilowatts, multiply the number of

megajoules by 0.278, eg: 10 megajoules x 0.278 =
2.78 kilowatts.

24 x 2 = 48 cents per hour
If the appliance is turned on 10 hours per day*:

10 x 48 cents = $4.80 a day
10 hours x 72 cents = 720 cents or $7.20 per day
To convert kilowatts into megajoules, multiplying the number

of kilowatts by 3.6, eg: 10 kilowatts x 3.6 = 36 megajoules.
* Note that if the heater is controlled by a thermostat its energy use

will be lower than if it is constantly on full power.
Heating & cooling

0.0
Cooking
Heating
& cooling
Stand-by
power
Stand-by
power
Cooking
4%
Use smaller cooking appliances when you can.
1.0
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
0.6
What
you can do to save energy
Yes
No
Fridges
& freezers
0.4
Replace
door seals if ineffective.
Do you use small kitchen appliances

instead of the oven eg microwaves,
electric fry pans?
Yes
No
Water heating
The most accurate
way to find an appliances running cost is
toHeating
use& cooling
an appliance power meter. You can borrow a power
meter in the Home Energy Toolkit free of charge from most
public libraries in South Australia. See page 10.
0.0
Smaller appliances generally use less energy.
For a list of average running

costs of household appliances
Fridges & freezers
see www.sa.gov.au/energy/runningcosts.
Stand-by
power
3%
Stand-by power
Switch off at the wall to avoid stand-by power costs.
Entertainment
electronics
Cooking
Water
heating
Do you leave appliances on stand-by

eg televisions, stereos, computers?
No
Find the appliances input power in

watts or megajoules
Fridges
& freezers
How to insulate hot water pipes

You can purchase foam tubing from hardware and plumbing
stores. Look for one which has been cut along its length and
has a self-sealing adhesive strip.
To install:
slide the foam tubing onto the external heater pipes
peel off the adhesive strip and join the sides together.
Check your shower flow rate

You will need:
a bucket and something to measure water volume
such as a measuring jug
a stopwatch (available in the Home Energy Toolkit).
Turn the water on full and let it flow into a bucket
for ten seconds.
Measure the amount of water in litres.
Multiply by six to determine the flow rate in litres.
Action
Label shows 2400kW
Turn appliances off at the wall to prevent stand-by

power use.
Divide 2400W by 1,000 = 2.4kW
Convert input power to kilowatts (kW) or

megajoules (MJ) if necessary

unsure you can use 30 cents per kWh for electricity
One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts,

so divide watts by 1,000 to give kilowatts

2.4 x 30 = 72 cents per hour
If the heater is turned on 10 hours per day*:

10 x 72 cents = $7.20 a day
On small electrical appliances the amps and volts

may be indicated instead. Multiply the amps by the
volts to get watts
Other
appliances
eg: 2,400 watts = 2.4 kilowatts
More information
You can check for draughts by:
looking for daylight around the edges of doors
and windows
looking for gaps around skirting boards
feeling draughts on a wet finger.
Step
The watts or megajoules will usually be on a label

on the appliance or in the owners manual
You can use the power meter in the Home Energy

Toolkit to measure stand-by power use. See page 10.
How to check for draughts
Clothes washing,
dish washing &

Action
small appliances

Yes
Lighting
Step
Lighting
Cooking
Follow the steps in the tables
below to calculate the running
Stand-by
power
costs of electric or gas appliances.
Heating
& cooling
Example: Portable electric heater
Not all appliances operate constantly at full power. Appliances

with high and low settings or thermostats can use less energy.
Other
appliances
See0.2below for more information on checking door seals.
Clothes washing,
dish washing &
small appliances
Knowing the running cost of an appliance will help to keep

track of how much you are spending on energy.
Lighting
Lighting
How to calculate running costs
Water
heating
0.8
Does your oven door seal properly?
Fridges & freezers
One megajoule equals 1,000,000 joules,

so divide joules by 1,000,000 to give megajoules
eg: 3,200,000 joules = 3.2 megajoules
Shower flow rate example:
Water flow in 10 seconds = 2 litres
2 litres x 6 = 12 litres in 60 seconds
Flow rate is 12 litres per minute.
You will need:
If you are unsure you can use an average tariff of 30

cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity and 2 cents
per megajoule for gas
a thermometer
Leave the thermometer in the closed fridge or freezer for

about 30 minutes and then observe the temperature.
How to check door seals on

fridges, freezers and ovens
Close the door on a piece of paper. The door seal should be
strong enough to firmly grip it. Check in several places around
the edge of the door.
Look for sections that are cracked and brittle or pressed out
of shape.
If the paper slides out easily, or the seal is damaged,
consider having it replaced.
Check your bill for your energy tariff the

amount you pay per unit of electricity or gas
For electric appliances, use the Peak rate as most
appliances, besides hot water systems, will be
charged at this rate. See page 8 for advice on
reviewing your energy bill
Check your fridge or freezer temperature
Place your thermometer below the top shelf and towards

the front of the fridge, or anywhere in the freezer.
Example: Gas space heater

to get the hourly running cost in cents per hour, eg:
2.4 kW x 30 cents = 72 cents per hour, or
3.2 MJ x 2 cents = 6.4 cents per hour
Step
Action
Multiply the hourly running cost by the number

of hours per day you run the appliance
to get a daily running cost, eg:
Label shows 24MJ per hour on low setting
Convert joules to megajoules (MJ) by dividing by

1,000,000. In this case no conversion required
To compare an electric heater to a gas heater, it may be useful

to convert megajoules to kilowatts or vice versa.

unsure use 2 cents per MJ for gas
To convert megajoules to kilowatts, multiply the number of

megajoules by 0.278, eg: 10 megajoules x 0.278 =
2.78 kilowatts.

24 x 2 = 48 cents per hour
If the appliance is turned on 10 hours per day*:

10 x 48 cents = $4.80 a day
10 hours x 72 cents = 720 cents or $7.20 per day
To convert kilowatts into megajoules, multiplying the number

of kilowatts by 3.6, eg: 10 kilowatts x 3.6 = 36 megajoules.
* Note that if the heater is controlled by a thermostat its energy use

will be lower than if it is constantly on full power.
Reading electricity and gas meters
Reviewing your electricity bills

Electricity bills contain a lot of information that can help you
understand how much energy you use in the home.
You should take note of:
daily energy consumption
the tariff rate or how much you are charged
per unit of energy, and
changes in consumption patterns between billing
periods and seasons.
The average number of

units (kWh) used per day
over the last billing period and
compared to the same period
last year.
An estimated meter reading is based on energy used in the

past. It is indicated on your bill by the words estimate or the
letter e near the meter reading. An actual reading may be
indicated by an a.
Electricity and gas meters are used by your energy provider to

measure the energy you use.
Knowing how to read a meter allows you to:
You can check the accuracy of the estimated or actual reading

by reading the meter yourself.
keep track of your home energy use as often

as required even on a day-to-day basis!
check the meter reading on your bill is correct.
This bill is an example to show you what to look for.

Please note, your bill may look different and contain
different information.
Digital electricity meters

Digital electricity meters display the meter
readings as a row of numbers, like the
kilometre indicator in a car. You simply read
the number from left to right.
This graph shows you the

pattern of your electricity
use compared with previous
billing periods, allowing you
to compare your use across
billing periods and seasons.
Many homes have more

than one electricity meter, for
example one for Peak and the
other for Off Peak. Use the
meter number when checking
the related reading. A digital
meter can record Peak and
Off Peak so may show on
the bill as the same meter
number twice.
The number of days this
bill covers. For households
that are billed quarterly, this
will be around 90 days.
The total number of electricity

units used per meter a unit
is a kilowatt-hour (kwh).
The prices you are paying

(per kWh) for your electricity,
in different periods, eg
summer rate, non-summer
rate and Off Peak rate. The
Unchanged Rate normally
refers to a rate that does not
change in summer. In this
example it is Off Peak.
Digital meters record the

amount of gas used in
cubic metres.
See page 10 for an explanation of how to convert cubic
metres into megajoules and use this reading to calculate and
understand the energy use shown on your bill.
The screens containing the meter readings

are numbered, look for:
Dial or clock face gas meters
03 or 003 for the Peak electricity meter reading

07 or 007 for Off Peak electricity meter reading
Imperial or clock face meters comprise of a number of dials.

The hands rotate in different directions. Standing directly in
front of the meter:
Dial or clock face electricity meters
Digital gas meters, also

known as metric meters,
are read from left to right.
You only need to read the
black and white digits,
ignore any red numbers
these are used for testing
purposes.
There may be a number of screens to scroll

through before you reach the electricity
meter readings eg date and time.
Most homes with a solar panels installed will have an import/

export meter installed. The reading for the power generated by
solar panels and exported back into the grid will be indicated
with an 09 or 009 on these meters. Refer to the manufacturers
instruction manual or contact ETSA Utilities to find out how to
read this type of meter.
This area shows the billing

period and whether the bill is
based on an actual reading
or an estimate.
Digital gas meters
Always read the dials from left to right, ignoring the dial
marked 1/10 as it is only for testing.
Each dial revolves in a different direction to the one next to it,
eg anti-clockwise, then clockwise
Always note the number the pointer has just passed eg it if
is between 7 and 8, write down 7.
If the pointer is directly over a number underline that number
when you write it down.
If any of the underlined numbers are followed by an 8 or 9
reduce the underlined number by one.
Only read the four dials closest to the left.

Read the dials from left to right and record the number the
clock hand is pointing to.
If a hand is between two numbers, note the lower number
except when the hand is between 0 and 9, in which case
read 9.
The reading given by the clock face meter is the amount of
gas used in cubic feet or metres as indicated below the dials.
The above example gives a reading of 1394 cubic feet.
See page 10 for an explanation of how to convert cubic feet or

cubic metres into megajoules and use this reading to calculate
and understand the energy use shown on your bill.
7
7
Because the 4 is underlined and followed by a 9, we change the

4 to a 3, so the meter reading is 73958 kWh.
Reading electricity and gas meters
Reviewing your electricity bills

Electricity bills contain a lot of information that can help you
understand how much energy you use in the home.
You should take note of:
daily energy consumption
the tariff rate or how much you are charged
per unit of energy, and
changes in consumption patterns between billing
periods and seasons.
The average number of

units (kWh) used per day
over the last billing period and
compared to the same period
last year.
An estimated meter reading is based on energy used in the

past. It is indicated on your bill by the words estimate or the
letter e near the meter reading. An actual reading may be
indicated by an a.
Electricity and gas meters are used by your energy provider to

measure the energy you use.
Knowing how to read a meter allows you to:
You can check the accuracy of the estimated or actual reading

by reading the meter yourself.
keep track of your home energy use as often

as required even on a day-to-day basis!
check the meter reading on your bill is correct.
This bill is an example to show you what to look for.

Please note, your bill may look different and contain
different information.
Digital electricity meters

Digital electricity meters display the meter
readings as a row of numbers, like the
kilometre indicator in a car. You simply read
the number from left to right.
This graph shows you the

pattern of your electricity
use compared with previous
billing periods, allowing you
to compare your use across
billing periods and seasons.
Many homes have more

than one electricity meter, for
example one for Peak and the
other for Off Peak. Use the
meter number when checking
the related reading. A digital
meter can record Peak and
Off Peak so may show on
the bill as the same meter
number twice.
The number of days this
bill covers. For households
that are billed quarterly, this
will be around 90 days.
The total number of electricity

units used per meter a unit
is a kilowatt-hour (kwh).
The prices you are paying

(per kWh) for your electricity,
in different periods, eg
summer rate, non-summer
rate and Off Peak rate. The
Unchanged Rate normally
refers to a rate that does not
change in summer. In this
example it is Off Peak.
Digital meters record the

amount of gas used in
cubic metres.
See page 10 for an explanation of how to convert cubic
metres into megajoules and use this reading to calculate and
understand the energy use shown on your bill.
The screens containing the meter readings

are numbered, look for:
Dial or clock face gas meters
03 or 003 for the Peak electricity meter reading

07 or 007 for Off Peak electricity meter reading
Imperial or clock face meters comprise of a number of dials.

The hands rotate in different directions. Standing directly in
front of the meter:
Dial or clock face electricity meters
Digital gas meters, also

known as metric meters,
are read from left to right.
You only need to read the
black and white digits,
ignore any red numbers
these are used for testing
purposes.
There may be a number of screens to scroll

through before you reach the electricity
meter readings eg date and time.
Most homes with a solar panels installed will have an import/

export meter installed. The reading for the power generated by
solar panels and exported back into the grid will be indicated
with an 09 or 009 on these meters. Refer to the manufacturers
instruction manual or contact ETSA Utilities to find out how to
read this type of meter.
This area shows the billing

period and whether the bill is
based on an actual reading
or an estimate.
Digital gas meters
Always read the dials from left to right, ignoring the dial
marked 1/10 as it is only for testing.
Always note the number the pointer has just passed eg it if
is between 7 and 8, write down 7.
If the pointer is directly over a number underline that number
when you write it down.
If any of the underlined numbers are followed by an 8 or 9
reduce the underlined number by one.
Only read the four dials closest to the left.

Read the dials from left to right and record the number the
clock hand is pointing to.
If a hand is between two numbers, note the lower number
except when the hand is between 0 and 9, in which case
read 9.
The reading given by the clock face meter is the amount of
gas used in cubic feet or metres as indicated below the dials.
The above example gives a reading of 1394 cubic feet.
See page 10 for an explanation of how to convert cubic feet or

cubic metres into megajoules and use this reading to calculate
and understand the energy use shown on your bill.
7
7
Because the 4 is underlined and followed by a 9, we change the

4 to a 3, so the meter reading is 73958 kWh.
Using electricity and gas meter readings

Keeping a written log of your meter readings and the dates
taken can help you track your energy use over time.
Gas meter conversion examples

Convert cubic metres to megajoules:
Using the electricity meter reading
Action
Example
The electricity meter reading shows you the total amount of

electricity used over the life of the meter.
Record previous reading
0786 cubic metres
You can determine how much electricity has been used over
a period of time by subtracting a previous meter reading from
the current meter reading.
10
Record current reading
0800 cubic metres
Subtract previous reading

from current reading
0800 - 0786 = 14 cubic metres
Convert to megajoules
14 cubic metres x 38.61 MJ /

cubic metre = 540.54 MJ of
gas has been used.
Using the gas meter reading

A gas meter can be used to calculate the energy used over
a period of time by subtracting a previous reading from the
current reading.
Digital gas meters record in cubic metres and dial or clock
face gas meters record in cubic feet or cubic metres.
To convert the reading to megajoules (MJ), which are the units
shown on your gas bill, multiply it by the gass heating value
(the amount of energy in a cubic metre or foot of gas).
A typical heating value used for natural gas in South Australia
is 38.61 MJ/cubic metre or 1.09 MJ/cubic feet.
Online resources: sa.gov.au/energy

The sa.gov.au website has a wealth
of energy efficiency information to
help you understand and reduce
your home energy use. Theres also
information on:
Choosing energy efficient appliances

Energy bill comparison
Events about saving energy
11
Convert cubic feet to megajoules:

Action
Example
1074 cubic feet
1394 cubic feet

1394 - 1074 = 320 cubic feet

cubic feet = 348.8 MJ of gas
has been used.
Would you like to do a more detailed audit?
Borrow a
Home Energy Toolkit
Home Energy Toolkits can be borrowed free of charge
from most South Australian libraries. They come with a
comprehensive home energy auditing manual which lets
you explore your home energy use in much more detail.
Each toolkit contains a thermometer, compass, stopwatch
and a power meter that can measure home appliance energy
use, running costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Call your library to check if they have a

Home Energy Toolkit available.
Go to sa.gov.au/energy/toolkit or call
the Energy Advisory Service on 8204 1888
for a list of participating libraries.
Choosing renewable energy

Rebates and concessions
Electricity and gas safety advice.
Explore the interactive energy

efficient house
Explore the energy efficient house by clicking
on items to discover where and how you can
save energy in the home and minimise your
electricity and gas bills.
Find the interactive house at
www.sa.gov.au/energy/efficienthouse
Using electricity and gas meter readings

Keeping a written log of your meter readings and the dates
taken can help you track your energy use over time.
Gas meter conversion examples

Convert cubic metres to megajoules:
Using the electricity meter reading
Action
Example
The electricity meter reading shows you the total amount of

electricity used over the life of the meter.
0786 cubic metres
You can determine how much electricity has been used over
a period of time by subtracting a previous meter reading from
the current meter reading.
10
0800 cubic metres

0800 - 0786 = 14 cubic metres

cubic metre = 540.54 MJ of
gas has been used.
Using the gas meter reading

A gas meter can be used to calculate the energy used over
a period of time by subtracting a previous reading from the
current reading.
Digital gas meters record in cubic metres and dial or clock
face gas meters record in cubic feet or cubic metres.
To convert the reading to megajoules (MJ), which are the units
shown on your gas bill, multiply it by the gass heating value
(the amount of energy in a cubic metre or foot of gas).
A typical heating value used for natural gas in South Australia
is 38.61 MJ/cubic metre or 1.09 MJ/cubic feet.
Online resources: sa.gov.au/energy

The sa.gov.au website has a wealth
of energy efficiency information to
help you understand and reduce
your home energy use. Theres also
information on:
Choosing energy efficient appliances

Energy bill comparison
Events about saving energy
11
Convert cubic feet to megajoules:

Action
Example
1074 cubic feet
1394 cubic feet

1394 - 1074 = 320 cubic feet

cubic feet = 348.8 MJ of gas
has been used.
Would you like to do a more detailed audit?
Borrow a
Home Energy Toolkit
Home Energy Toolkits can be borrowed free of charge
from most South Australian libraries. They come with a
comprehensive home energy auditing manual which lets
you explore your home energy use in much more detail.
Each toolkit contains a thermometer, compass, stopwatch
and a power meter that can measure home appliance energy
use, running costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Call your library to check if they have a

Home Energy Toolkit available.
Go to sa.gov.au/energy/toolkit or call
the Energy Advisory Service on 8204 1888
for a list of participating libraries.
Choosing renewable energy

Rebates and concessions
Electricity and gas safety advice.
Explore the interactive energy

efficient house
Explore the energy efficient house by clicking
on items to discover where and how you can
save energy in the home and minimise your
electricity and gas bills.
Find the interactive house at
www.sa.gov.au/energy/efficienthouse
More energy information

Energy Saving Advice
The Energy Advisory Service offers free independent
information about saving energy in the home.
See below for contact details.
Borrow a Home Energy Toolkit

Home Energy Toolkits are available from public libraries
across South Australia. See page 10 of this audit for details.
Are you getting the best deal for energy?

Visit www.sa.gov.au/energy/bills to compare your bill with
all the prices offered by energy providers in South Australia.
Are you eligible for a concession?

Call the concessions hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit the
website www.sa.gov.au/concessions to find out if you
could get financial help with your energy bills.
Help to resolve a dispute with your provider

The Energy Industry Ombudsman offers a free independent
service to all South Australian domestic and business
customers that can help resolve disputes with gas and
electricity providers.
Call 1800 665 565 or visit the website www.eiosa.com.au
Get your organisation involved to help

others save energy
The Energy Partners Program works with organisations
across South Australia to help promote energy efficiency.
See www.sa.gov.au/energypartners
Energy Advisory Service

Visit the website:
www.sa.gov.au/energysmart
Email us:
dtei.energy@sa.gov.au
Call us:
8204 1888
1800 671 907 (Freecall)
ED01 1111

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Do your own

home energy audit

2 Do your own home energy audit

Do your own home energy audit 3

How to complete your home energy audit

Heating and cooling

What do you do at home?

Ask yourself, is this what I normally do at

Do you only heat and cool rooms

In winter, do you open curtains, blinds

Follow the manufacturers maintenance instructions and

Most people will find a temperature between

cooling appliances to ensure they

In summer, close curtains and shade windows to

Do you use reversible ceiling fans

Reversible ceiling fans create cool breezes in summer

Does your home have insulation?

Consider having insulation installed in your ceiling and

Every 1C lower adds 10% to the running costs

Consider contacting the Energy Advisory Service for

is no label, the running costs?

Most people will find a temperature between

Use the sun as free heating in cooler months.

Fridges & freezers

Use a compass or refer to your street directory or online

What uses energy in the home?

Consider closing doors to unused rooms so you only

If you have a ducted system it may already be divided

Tick off your answers to each question.

What you can do to save energy

Follow the advice in this column to help you save energy

When youre finished, youll have a handy

What do you do at home?

The information icon shows there is more

What you can do to save energy

Where you see the house icon, if you are renting

Have you sealed up gaps

Use draught excluders, door and window seals or gap

2 Do your own home energy audit

Do your own home energy audit 3

How to complete your home energy audit

Heating and cooling

What do you do at home?

Ask yourself, is this what I normally do at

Do you only heat and cool rooms

In winter, do you open curtains, blinds

What uses energy in the home?

cooling appliances to ensure they

In summer, do you shade windows to

Follow the manufacturers maintenance instructions and

Most people will find a temperature between

*Data based on Baseline Energy Estimates 2008.

In summer, close curtains and shade windows to

Do you use reversible ceiling fans

Reversible ceiling fans create cool breezes in summer

Does your home have insulation?

Consider having insulation installed in your ceiling and

Every 1C lower adds 10% to the running costs

Most people will find a temperature between

is no label, the running costs?

Use the sun as free heating in cooler months.

If you have a ducted system it may already be divided