Energy Efficient Resources

http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/Publications.nsf/PubDocsLU/1267?OpenDocument

VICTORIA’S ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
PGS – 5, 8, 9, 13 from publication.

WWW.LIVINGGREENER.GOV.AU

- RENEWABLE ENERGY: Solar power means converting sunlight into electricity via photovoltaic (PV) panels, also known as solar panels. 
Solar panels are a growing trend among Australian home owners, with over 20,000 new residential solar panels installed throughout Australia during 2009. They are the ideal choice for city or major urban areas as they don't make a noise, have no moving parts and are usually installed out of the way up on your roof. 
Solar panels require a significant upfront cost but, once installed, require little maintenance, can be expected to last 20 years or more, and the electricity they generate is free and clean. Any excess electricity can be fed back into the mains power grid or into a storage system like a battery bank. 
Rebates and assistance are available to help with the cost of installing solar power. Renewable power incentives in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), including Solar Credits, can save thousands on the cost of a new system.

- ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE HOME:

What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency simply means using less energy to provide the same service or achieve the same result. It’s about doing things smarter, or with improved technology, with absolutely no drop in service or your level of comfort. You use less energy as well as save money and reduce your impact on the environment.

Saving energy at home
Even if the building you live in is very energy efficient, the way you live inside your home will have a big impact on your energy use and costs. Think about how you use energy and act sensibly to reduce wastage where you can. Even making some simple and easy changes can mean real energy and cost savings without reducing comfort.

- ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING:

In recent years energy use for household lighting in Australia has rapidly increased. This is due to the construction of larger homes and the installation of more light fittings per home.

Most homes could reduce the amount of energy they use for lighting by 50 per cent or more by making smarter lighting choices and moving to more efficient technologies.

In Australia traditional but inefficient types of lighting (incandescent) are being phased out. There are other more efficient types of lighting available, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lights. LEDs and CFLs are the most energy efficient of these options.

Even if you have energy-efficient lighting, it makes sense to use lighting sensibly to further reduce energy use and electricity bills. There are a few simple steps you can take to use lights more efficiently:

• Check that you are not using a higher wattage globe than is necessary to light a room.
• Turn off unnecessary lights, especially when leaving a room.
• Have multiple switches to control the number of lights that come on at one time. Place switches at the exits from rooms and use two-way switching to encourage lights to be turned off when leaving the room.
• Consider installing movement sensors to turn lights on and off automatically in rooms that are used infrequently where lights may be left on by mistake.
• Use timers, daylight controls and motion sensors for outdoor security lights or for common areas, such as hallways and stairwells in multi-unit housing.
• Clean light fittings to allow more light to pass through.
• Take advantage of natural light.
• Consider using solar powered lighting for your garden.
• Consider decorating with light coloured finishes and furnishings - this can allow lighting levels to be reduced.

OTHER RESOURCES
- WWW.LIVINGGREENER.GOV.AU
- WWW.ENVIRONMENTALVICTORIA.ORG.AU
- WWW.MYGREENLIFE.COM.AU
- WWW.EPA.VIC.GOV.AU
- http://www.clipsal.com/trade/__data/page/4608/G0000057.pdf  = LIVING GREEN
- http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households.html