Sustainability at home has never been as important to homeowners than now. Greenhouse gas emissions are constantly increasing whilst rising electricity and water prices have been putting ever increasing financial pressures on average Australian families, especially the last couple of years. However, you can make a difference.

You can be in control. “The choices you make and the actions you take now will affect the way we live in the future. Whether you're taking your first steps in sustainability or looking to shrink your impact even more”, you'll find help you need at East Coast Sustainability.

“Greenhouse gas emissions from the household sector produces about one fifth of Australia’s total GGE. The average Australian home produces about 8-10 tones of CO2 each year. Most of this is from energy use within the home, followed by private transport and the decay of household rubbish in landfill. The following relate to estimated energy use in 2008.”

“On average, heating and cooling requires the most household energy, (90% heating, 10% cooling), followed by electrical appliances and water heating, as shown in the pie chart below)”

• Try not to use air-conditioning use ceiling fans and encourage cross ventilation instead
• Air conditioning works best in well insulated homes.
• Buy the right size Air con for your home (125watts per square meter)
• Buy an energy efficient Inverter Air conditioner.
• Set thermostat between 23 and 26 degrees. Every one degree lower can increase running costs by 10%
• Draw curtains and keep blinds and curtains closed, particularly on the western façade
• Ensure the system can be zoned. • Keep the compressor and external components of the air conditioner out of direct sunlight.
• To get the most out of the unit program it to recirculate cool internal air instead of drawing warm air in from outside.
• External shade for windows (very important)

• With a reverse cycle air conditioner set the thermostat between 18 – 21 degrees.
• Wear warmer clothes (insulate your body)
• Eliminate drafts and gaps around doors and windows
• Insulate ceiling (very important)
• Close doors to bathrooms as heat can escape through exhaust fans.
• Hot air rises so running slow-moving fans in reverse is an effective way to push the heat down to ground level.
• Avoid Oil, Electric radiator and electric fan heaters. (these can cost a fortune to run)