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The H.E.A.T is the best place to start your energy saving journey. After you have walked through your house and completed the H.E.A.T. you will be able to better identify where your home is wasting energy and discover what you can do about it.
Your ACTIONS at home will make a big difference!
Simple changes will make a big difference to your energy consumption, will help tackle global warming and improve your bottom line … the household electricity, gas and fire wood bills!
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IMPORTANT! Instructions:
- Work through each of the #10 areas of the H.E.A.T and consider each action statement
- Indicate by clicking the appropriate button if you have done it already…not yet…or if it is not applicable to your household.
- You will be presented with an Action Plan. The Actions listed in shaded bold italics are the easy options that will return big energy savings – start with these ones!
- When you see a
 ,click on it to discover more information.
- Use your Energy Smart Thermometer to check and reset thermostat settings - refer to the instructions here.
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Supportive Weblinks
To help you decide which ACTIONS in the HEAT are the best for your household, Castlemaine 500 have put together an extensive range of weblinks to help. Click here for a link to this great webpage (opens in a new window).
Are you already registered to MyHomeMyPlanet?
If No, please complete the Registration Form for Castlemaine, Ararat or Kyabram. Then return here to complete this tool.
If Yes, please use the same surname and address as you did when registering.
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If you have already made a start on saving energy around the home, list a few of the changes made already:
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| Area #1 WINTER HEATING |
| Heating your home is the biggest expense and accounts for roughly 50% of the average, annual Castlemaine Energy Bill. Many of the actions below will save energy, reduce your bills and help create a more comfortable home. |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We heat our living areas in winter to between 18 and 20 degrees C and wear warmer clothes to suit the season. |
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| We close doors, windows and curtains to keep the heat in – especially at night. |
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| We turn the pilot light off our gas heater during the warmer months. |
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| We use ceiling fans to circulate warm air. |
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| We only use portable electric heaters for less than 2 hours per day. |
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| We always open curtains on sunny winter days to let the free heat of the sun in. |
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| We close doors to areas of the home that don’t need heating. |
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| We turn off our heating overnight and when we are out during the day. |
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| We keep our heaters clean by keeping reflectors shiny, cleaning air filters frequently and keeping the flue clean on wood heaters. |
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| We ensure that our wood fuel is dry and ready to burn. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have sealed gaps around all external doors and windows with weather strips and draught seals. |
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| We have sealed up unused chimneys to prevent heat loss in winter. |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have installed or topped up insulation in our: |
| Ceiling. |
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| Walls. |
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| Floor (under). |
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| We have our windows well protected with close fitting, closely woven curtains with pelmets, drapes or blinds . |
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| We have replaced open fire places with more efficient wood combustion alternatives. |
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| Area #2 SUMMER COOLING |
| On very hot days, Victorian households are increasingly using air conditioners to keep homes comfortable. There are many simple ways to keep cool over the summer without wasting energy and relying on air conditioners. |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| Our windows well shaded from summer sun. |
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| We close windows, doors, blinds and curtains over windows on hot days. |
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| We use portable fans or ceiling fans to create cooling breezes instead of air-conditioning. |
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| We limit the use of our air conditioner and set the thermostat to no less than 26 C. |
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| We turn off cooling systems overnight or when we are out. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have created natural window shading in the summer by using plants. |
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| We have reversible ceiling fans in living rooms to create cooling breezes. |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have replaced our air conditioner with a more highly efficient model (see star ratings). |
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| We have installed external blinds/shutters to shade windows from the sun. |
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| Area #3 HOT WATER |
Energy used by an average household for water heating can cost about $300 each year, and account for up to 25% of annual energy costs.
There are simple actions you can take to help make your hot water last longer. If your electric or gas system is getting old, you have a great opportunity to install a highly efficient hot water system and receive a government rebate to off set any extra costs. A highly efficient gas or solar hot water system could pay itself off within a few years anyway! |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have set our hot water thermostat to 60 degrees C (if storage unit) and 45 degrees C (if instantaneous system) – see instructions for using your Energy Smart Thermometer. |
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| We turn off our hot water system when we go away for extended periods of time. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have insulated any outside hot water pipes from our hot water system. |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have replaced our old, inefficient hot water system (eg. electric or gas storage) with a new 5 star instantaneous gas systems, a heat pump or a solar system. |
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| Area #4 BATHROOMS & ENSUITES |
The bathroom/ensuite is one area of the house where you can take simple actions and dramatically cut your annual energy bills.
By replacing a standard shower head with an ‘AAA’+ model, you could save up to $100 per year.
The other big benefit is the 30,000 litres of water you will save every year!! |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We take shorter showers by keeping them to under 5 minutes instead of the average 8 minutes. |
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| We use the shower instead of the bath and save on both energy and water. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
We have installed an AAA+ rated/low flow shower head.
** NOTE low flow shower heads may not be suitable for some instantaneous hot water systems |
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We have installed low flow devices/taps to our vanity basin, kitchen and laundry.
** saving money and water for the environment! |
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| Area #5 ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND THE STANDBY POWER DRAIN |
Electrical appliances can account for up to $500 a year in energy bills for a typical family.
Standby Power is the power used by appliances when they are not in use. For the typical home this is around 10% of electricity consumption
and around $80 a year. The biggest culprits for standby power are computer hard drives, monitors, scanners and printers. |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We turn all appliances off at the switch, or better still, the powerpoint when not in use or when we go away. |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| When purchasing new appliances we look for the most energy efficient appliances. |
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| Area #6 CLOTHES WASHING AND DRYING |
Energy used for clothes washing and drying can cost a typical family up to $170 each year and generate plenty of greenhouse gas pollution.
There are some very simple and effective things you can do right away. |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We always wash our clothes on cold water to save energy and protect our clothes. |
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| We only run the washer or dryer with full loads |
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| When possible, we use the ‘eco’ cycle on our washing machine |
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| We hang our clothes out to dry (or on a clothes horse in a warm room) and avoid using the dryer |
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| We have repaired any leaking hot water taps |
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| We clean the lint filter on the dryer after every load |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have replaced our old washing machine with a more energy (and water) efficient front loading model – save your money and your clothes! |
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| Area #7 FRIDGES AND FREEZERS |
| Your fridge and freezer runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It uses the most electricity of any appliance in your house. The average bill for fridges and freezers is around $140 per year. Like the bathroom, this is one area where some simple actions can make a big difference |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have switched off any additional refrigerators or freezers such as our bar fridge and second freezer (because it is only occasionally used). |
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| We have set our refrigerator temperature to between 3 & 5 degrees C and the freezer to between -18 & -15 degrees C. |
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| We have ensured good air circulation on either side of the fridge and behind the unit. |
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| We have ensured that our fridge is cycling on/off. |
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| We turn our fridge off when we go on holiday. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
We have checked and replaced door seals that were not tight fitting.
** the door can now hold a $5 noted when the door is closed! |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
We have replaced our old, inefficient fridge with a new 5 or 6 star model.
** this will pay itself off in just a few years! |
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| Area #8 KITCHEN - DISHWASHING AND COOKING |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We run the dishwasher only when full and use the economy cycle often |
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| We use our smaller cooking appliances where possible – a microwave uses much less energy than the stove or oven and a toaster uses a third of the energy of our griller! |
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| We have checked that seals on our oven door are in good condition |
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| We always thaw frozen goods before cooking |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
We have fitted kitchen taps with flow reduction valves
** to save energy and water |
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| We have replaced our old dishwasher and invested a little extra money in a new 5 star model |
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| Area #9 LIGHTING |
| In a typical home, electricity for lighting costs about $100 each year … this is another area where small but significant savings can be made. It is so easy! |
| No cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We always turn off lights when not needed and make the most of natural daylight. |
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| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have replaced our standard globes with energy saving globes in areas where the lights remain on for longer periods such as the kitchen and living areas. |
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| We have replaced our halogen down lighting with much more efficient down lights. |
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| We have replace high wattage outdoors floodlights with energy efficient globes and installed daylight/movement sensors to outdoor and security lighting |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We have installed a new window to our dark living area to increase the amount of natural light (and free heating from the sun in the winter) |
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| Area #10 PURCHASING DECISIONS |
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An easy way to help the environment is to invest in schemes that support renewable energy. Green Power is now widely available from most retailers and is generated from clean sources such as wind, solar and hydro.
The greater the number of stars, the lower the running costs of appliances. As an example:
4 star fridge $113 annual running costs (plus 777kg of CO2)
2 star fridge $191 annual running costs (plus 1315 kg of CO2)
** that’s a $780 saving over the life of the fridge |
| Low cost |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| We invest in the Green Power Scheme for electricity and gas with our energy retailer. |
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| Some more time and $$$ investment required |
Done |
Not Yet |
N/A |
| When buying a new electrical appliance we choose the most energy efficient model that we can |
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| Congratulations on completing your H.E.A.T. |
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