How to improve your energy efficiency at home
One of the easiest ways to be more environmentally aware, reduce your carbon footprint and save money is to start with where you live. There are many small, simple things you can do to improve your energy efficiency at home, but they all add up to make a big difference.
Practicing environmental sustainability doesn’t have to be hard or painful; it can be as simple as turning off lights and appliances when you’re not using them. By getting into the habit of little daily practices, you’ll soon be contributing to a healthier, greener planet and decreasing your own impact on the environment.
Electricity and Lighting
When you’re replacing appliances, choose the most energy efficient ones – you’ll find the energy star rating on the front of each one - and switch them off at the power point when not in use. Switch off lights, fans and heaters if you leave the room for any length of time, and replace your light bulbs with LEDs (light emitting diodes) and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
Avoid using a clothes dryer. We have an abundance of sunshine in Australia, and your clothes will last longer and smell better when they’re dried in the fresh air.
Water Saving Habits
When saving water, choose drought-tolerant plants for your garden and water in the cool of the evening or early morning to reduce evaporation. Use a water-saving shower head, and consider a tankless water heater that only heats the water you use. Avoid running the dishwasher or washing machine with only half a load; make sure it’s full to save water and energy.
Reduce Heating and Cooling Bills
Think about planting deciduous trees on the sunny side of the house. They’ll provide shade in summer, and in winter, when they lose their leaves, the sun will warm the house. Use thermal shades or curtains on the windows to keep the heat in or out, depending on the season. Install ceiling fans for summer cooling and to distribute the heat in winter.
Energy Efficiency in Home Design
Energy-efficient home design is a passive way you can ‘set and forget’ your environmental sustainability. By using well-placed double-glazed windows to maximise the sunlight, you can keep your home comfortably warm in winter without heating and enjoy cooling breezes in summer. Windows at opposite sides of the house can be opened to create a cross ventilation to cool the house after a hot summer’s day.
New homes and existing homes can benefit from insulation in floors, walls, and ceilings to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, saving a significant amount on energy bills.
Solar Panels
SolarPay by EnergyBuild, works towards a greener future for everyday Australians in the new homes we build.
As the largest residential home builder in New South Wales, we want to ensure we are leading the way to make our homes smarter, more sustainable and future-ready for generations to come with solar panels on your new roof, PLUS an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger in every McDonald Jones garage.
Sustainable Building Design with McDonald Jones Homes
For more than 30 years, McDonald Jones Homes has been building quality homes that stand the test of time. We believe your home is much more than the sum of its parts and we’re here to inspire lifestyle possibilities and create new, sustainable futures.
Take a look at our stunning and innovative new home designs, our convenient house and land packages so you can move into your new home sooner, or visit one of our extraordinary display homes near you. Call us on 1300 555 382 or contact us online for enquiries and more information about our award-winning homes.