Browse Forums Eco Living 1 Mar 05, 2011 6:20 pm Heya mates, I'm looking to improve the way in which I save energy. So far I've done the whole insulation, windows upgrading, and I have a small wind turbine installed. Well, it's still not enough and I've seen there are plenty of energy saving devices out there? Any advice on where to buy the best priced ones and what models/types I should go for? I'm interested in something for the overall house as well as for specific items, e.g. computer energy saving. Some ideas would be most welcome, guys. Cheers, Tristan Re: Devices for home energy saving 3Mar 06, 2011 1:28 pm May have heard all of these before - but here is my list. Sealing gaps around doors and elsewhere - a lot of heat can be lost or gained there. Solar Hot Water - either type. Water efficient shower heads - saves water and energy from hot water. Aerators for the kitchen and bathroom taps. Refrigerator - newer ones are a lot more energy efficient than older ones. Make sure it is adequately ventilated around sides and backs. Turn off the second fridge if you have one (only use it in the lead up to parties etc). Energy efficient light bulbs - of course. Consider removing halogen downlights if you have them - very inefficient, puts holes in the ceiling insulation and a fire risk. Heating - turn down a degree or two and only heat the areas you are using. Cooling turn up a degree or two etc. Thick curtains on windows which seal around the edge of the curtain. Curtains with pelmets or roman blinds that extend beyond the edges of the window and seal to the wall and floor. Prevent sun from hitting glass in summer - external shading. Remote control standby power eliminators - or eliminate standby power manually by turning off at the wall. (And yes, not having appliances would of course help as well - but perhaps some are necessary in our modern world). When buying new appliance consider the "Star rating" and energy usage. Re: Devices for home energy saving 4Mar 11, 2011 11:59 am Most of the energy saving devices simply tell you how much it is costing to run an appliance and help education wise. I would be a little dubious about anything that reduces the amount of power an appliance uses as dropping your voltage (like what happens in a brown out) can damage appliances. My advice, if you want to reduce your consumption turn things off and don't use items if you don't need to. Get an energy auditor out to your home to advise on how to make your home more energy efficient (and not the type that hand out shower heads and light bulbs ) Re: Devices for home energy saving 5Mar 11, 2011 4:22 pm The fridge is one of the biggest consumers of power so get the fridge with to most stars. Also make sure there is plenty of ventilation around the fridge. the more ventilation to the back of the fridge where the motor and radiator are the less it will cost to run. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Devices for home energy saving 6Mar 13, 2011 1:21 am Tristan, This is the one I'm using: http://www.energysaver.net.au/product_i ... 3055267709 , it's really neat and it really helps you understand how much and especially where your electricity goes – basically, it's an green energy auditor in your hand You might want to check other products on that website too – but, again, the best thing you can do is not to use "brown out" devices, or any devices that minimize your energy output, but rather gadgets that give you insight, information, and, best of all, control over the way you use energy. Re: Devices for home energy saving 7Mar 13, 2011 9:59 pm Awesome advices, guys, thanks a lot. @ David: I got that device from energysaver.net.au, so far performs well, and it's giving me a good idea of what I'm spending and where. In case anybody is interested, there's a discount coupon code: ES351408, take it and share it Thanks for recommending the website, I got some more products from there: http://www.energysaver.net.au/product_i ... c0d2ad688b , it's a so-called ECO Button, basically a standby quick button, but it's useful when "nature calls" hehe. Also, kids are having a blast with the weather station: http://www.energysaver.net.au/product_i ... ucts_id=23. Yeah, I have geek kids, I know They take after their dad, haha. Re: Devices for home energy saving 8Mar 21, 2011 3:21 am Water tank with 2.5 to 3 cubic meters of grass clippings + 30 meters of plastic ag pipe and a pump. Pump to the house floor boards (if you have them) or plop a junk yard radiator on your heat pump. 14 weeks of free home heating.. Re: Devices for home energy saving 9Apr 15, 2011 5:44 pm LCD and LED based computer monitors use much less electricity than the glass tube type. Re: Devices for home energy saving 10Aug 19, 2011 3:00 am melbourne architect LCD and LED based computer monitors use much less electricity than the glass tube type. And so too are laptops as opposed to tower PC's Laptop = 30 watts PC tower = 90 - 190 watts Re: Devices for home energy saving 11Nov 09, 2011 10:02 pm An excellent device for saving energy is a plastic bottle. Why? Because if fridges and freezers are fairly empty they have a low thermal mass and when you open the door most of the cold air escapes. However if you fill a heap of bottles with water or freeze them to fill the space, they will store cold and so when the doors are opened, the temps return much quicker once the door is closed. Simple and effective. Also make sure the air can flow through the fridge and freezer. So don't pack it so tight with food and such that the vents can't work so well. 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