Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Free home energy visits provide advice to renters on how they can save money on their energy bills.
With winter approaching, it’s the perfect time to make your home more comfortable without increasing your energy bills.
Canberra renters can book a free in-home energy visit through the ACT Government’s Renters’ Home Energy Program. For a limited time, these visits also include free energy-saving materials, such as a heated throw rug, to enhance your home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
During these visits, a home energy expert identifies where energy is being used and provides simple solutions to help renters save on their bills.
The program is a free and easy way to:
- save on energy bills
- get tips on the quickest, cheapest and best ways to reduce energy use
- make rental homes more comfortable without using more gas or electricity
- find out ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
Home energy experts, like Jeff Knowles, have extensive experience conducting home energy visits in the ACT for renters. They offer valuable advice on energy use and simple steps to save money.
“Canberra is different from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as our summers are quite hot, our autumns and springs are lovely, then we have intense cold throughout the winter,” Jeff said.
“With such a range of temperatures, it’s tough to build a building in Canberra that works well all year round.
“The rising cost of living pressures are pushing people into greater and greater energy efficiency,” said Jeff.
“The Renters’ Home Energy Program aims to assist people by educating them about the properties they live in and the energy they use. Following some simple steps, renters could save around $200 each quarter off their gas and electricity bills.”
Energy saving tips:
- Understand what your home is made from, which direction it faces, and identify where heat or cool air can escape. A free home energy visit or the home energy web tool can help you identify these problems and their solutions.
- Check your insulation. All residential rental properties in the ACT must meet a minimum energy efficiency standard for ceiling insulation. Find out more about your rights as a renter.
- Prevent draughts by sealing doors and windows. Door draught stoppers and seal strips are good options.
- Use a plug-in power meter to monitor how much electricity your home appliances are using. Meters can point out inefficient appliances in your home such as electric element heaters.
- When operating your washing machine, use cold wash cycles so that you’re not using gas or electricity to heat water.
- Use a thermometer to monitor your fridge temperature. Most rental properties have their fridges running much colder than they need to be, which uses more electricity.
Find out more about the Renters’ Home Energy Program.
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