Choosing appliances


Tip: The labels above are examples of Australian Government sponsored energy and water efficiency lables. When looking at energy and water efficiency rating labels (such as those above) look at both the star rating and total energy or water consumed. Your bills work off the total energy or water consumed at the end of the day! Based on the typical household at The New Rouse Hill we believe the key appliances/fixtures to focus on for energy efficiency and water efficiency are:
Electric reverse cycle air conditioners
	Look for ratings generally better than 2.5 stars in the new rating system for heating and cooling (approx. 5.5 – 6 stars in the old system). Ensure that the A/C is sized appropriately for your needs – resist the urge to buy an A/C much larger than required. Check that the system has a variable speed output compressor, often called an inverter, that helps to run the system economically – this will just about always be the case for units with ratings > 2.5 stars. For a ducted system, and with installation of multiple split systems, insure that you discuss the most efficient way to zone your home so that you only heat or cool the areas that are absolutely necessary. Ensure that for ducted systems the installer is using well insulated ductwork and check the installers workmanship sealing joints in the duct work. See the Energy Rating website for a list of the most efficient air conditioners to suit your needs.
Gas boosted solar hot water
	If your family are heavy on showers then try to install a third hot water solar panel and larger capacity holding tank (typically greater than 400 litres) to maximise the capture and storage of solar energy. Ensure that the gas boost mechanism is an efficient continuous/ instantaneous gas unit rather than a gas boost that heats the entire holding tank – the latter approach can lead to very poor energy outcomes for households that have long showers of a night (this leads to an entire tank being heated automatically by gas each night). Continuous/instantaneous gas boost systems are provided by most popular brands.
Refrigerator / Freezers
	Choose a highly rated refrigerator/freezer – aim for greater than 3 stars in the new energy star rating system (approx. 5 stars in the old system). Electrolux are an example of a manufacturer of refrigerator/freezers with high energy ratings.
TV's
	For energy efficiency the latest range of LED LCD TVs are by far the most efficient – look for energy ratings of 6 stars plus - they are offered by most popular brands. We would also recommend that you consider a screen sizes that aren’t necessarily the largest available but more in keeping with balancing entertainment needs against your total energy consumption goals for the household – stick with less than 40 inchs in screen size. Most popular brands offer energy efficient models - see the Energy Rating website for a list of the most energy efficient TVs to suit your needs.
Lights
	Using large numbers of low voltage 50 watt halogen downlights can often use up to 3-4 refrigerators worth of energy around the home! Even using the more energy efficient 35 watt halogen globes uses far greater energy than compact fluorescent downlights and LED downlights. We recommend that you consider installation of compact fluorescent globes in your home as standard and further consider the latest releases of LED downlights that have improved in light output and reduced in cost (some 35 watt halogen downlights (mains 240v power) could be considered in zones of the house where immediate light is required until LED alternatives are available). Furthermore we recommend that a 240v downlight system be installed rather than a low voltage 12v downlight system that requires transformers that consume additional energy. We are currently testing some of the 6, 7 and 9 watt LED downlights that cost approximately $24-$34 each (as replacements for 50 watt halogen) and will update you on how they perform – at this price LEDs pay themselves off in under 2 years measured in electricity cost savings. The following links are examples of providers of the latest compact fluorescent globe and LED globe products - Todae Eco Store website, LED Lighting Products Australia website
Managing your standby power - especially at your TV, DVD / Blueray, Games, Pay TV Unit
	Anecdotal evidence suggests that many of The New Rouse Hill households will have multiple home entertainment appliances located in the family room and/or media room – each of these appliances generally has a standby function that uses small but consistent amounts of energy that add up. An easy way to minimise standby power wastage is to use a remote control device to switch off standby power at multiple wall sockets - this makes turning off power at hard to reach wall plugs easy. An example of these devices can be found at the Origin Eco Store. You could also consider using a specialised powerboard that automatically switches off power to appliances when they are switched into standby mode. An example of this type of product (and the remote standby eliminator product above) can be found at the Jacksons Industry website. Other brands are also available at the larger hardware stores.
Shower heads, kitchen tap heads, dual flush toilet
	It is almost certain that you have highly rated shower heads and tap heads (WELS 3 star or better) as part of your BASIX compliance and efficient dual flush toilet(s) – this is great news!
Washing machines
	Washing machines can use over 15% of the water for a typical home! When purchasing a machine try and find a suitable size and capacity with a rating better than WELS 4.5 star – most often these machines will be front loading. A highly rated machine can use half the water of a machine rated less than 2 stars in the WELS scheme. Many brands are available to choose from – as a guide, visit the Australian Government's Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme website where you can search for water efficient washing machines (and dishwashers while you are there!).