Easy ways to make your house greener [Infographic]
Building a home with sustainable features isn’t just environmentally friendly; it’s also a smart way to save money. Here, we outline some features you can add to your home to make it more energy efficient and economical.
Start with what nature gives you for free
Harvest the skies
Collecting and using rainwater can lead to a healthy drop in your water bills.1
Sun worship
A 2kW system costs around $5000 to install and cuts 30 percent from your power bill, saving around $150 each quarter on a $500 bill. It would take you something like 8 years (34 quarters) to pay off the installation, but it's free.2
Plants, not machinery
They look beautiful and purify the air by converting carbon dioxide into delicious free oxygen. Plus you can put edibles in and supply delicious things for dinner - you've got to love that.3
Build green savings into the house itself
Wear white
In sunny climates like ours, buildings with white roofs need up to 40% less energy for cooling than those with black ones, saving heaps on your cooling costs.4
Seal the leaks
Air leaks account for 15-25% of your houses winter heat loss. Having seals around all your windows is one of the simplest ways to reduce those power bills.5
Pad up
Insulate your roof and walls to save money to lower costs and keep your winter warm.6
Get economy out of your electricity use
Be efficiency led
LEDs consume a fraction of the energy of normal bulbs and have a much longer lifespan, so you save money on energy bills and replacement costs. Slam dunk.7
Kill the vampires
Vampire Power is the name for energy that is used by almost all your appliances when they're in 'Stand By', which can be up to 10-20% of a household's electricity bill. So it's a great place to start looking for savings.8
Follow the stars
Take a good look at 'The Energy Star® Label' before you buy your next appliance. The more stars, the less it costs to run and less stress on that thing we walk on.9
Thinking about making some green choices or improvements to your home? Consider applying for a personal loan online and get the smaller projects underway!
You can also refinance your current home loan to help fund the larger renovation projects. Try our home loan borrowing power tool and find out how much you can possibly borrow.
Want to find out where you stand?
Information provided is factual information only and is not intended to imply any recommendation about any financial product(s) or constitute tax advice. If you require financial or tax advice you should consult a licensed financial or tax adviser.
All applications are subject to credit assessment, eligibility criteria and lending limits. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply.
The results of the borrowing power calculator are based on information you have provided and is to be used as a guide only. The output of the calculator is subject to the assumptions provided in the calculator (see 'about this calculator') and are subject to change. It does not constitute a quote, pre-qualification, approval for credit or an offer for credit and you should not enter commitments based on it. The interest rates do not reflect true interest rates and the formula used for the purpose of calculating estimated borrowing power is based on the assumption that interest rates remain constant for the chosen loan term. Your borrowing power amount will be different if a full application is submitted and we complete responsible lending assessment. The results in the calculator do not take into account loan setup or establishment fees nor government, statutory or lenders fees, which may be applicable from time to time. Calculator by Widgetworks.
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Sources:
1. ABS: Environmental Issues, March 2010 Report
2. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-solar-panels-cost-100000393.html
3. https://athomestyle.com.au/blogs/at-home-style-general-blog/3-reasons-you-should-have-more-plants-in-your-home
4. https://heatisland.lbl.gov/coolscience/cool-roofs
5. https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design
6. https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design
7. https://www.energy.gov.au/households/lighting
8. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/keep-your-devices-wasting-energy-and-money
9. http://www.proudgreenhome.com/blogs/how-to-find-green-and-energy-efficient-home-appliances/
