Sustainability

Electricity's the juice on which so many of our favourite things run these days. Lights, heating and cooling, computers, microwaves, refrigerators...

Heaters and air conditioners can easily account for most of your energy consumption if you allow them to. Find out what you can do to minimise the need for artificial heating and cooling, and to reduce your consumption.

Lighting design is something that often gets less attention than it should. A well designed and managed lighting scheme will use far less energy in the long term, and is also likely to be more practical and appealing.

Fresh water's a precious resource - more so if it's drinkable, and even more so if you happen to live in one of the drier parts of Australia (which itself is the driest continent on earth after Antarctica).

One of the best reasons to own a solar panel system is that it'll eventually pay itself off thanks to electricity bill savings. Find out how to calculate how long this will take.

Find out what's involved with DIY solar systems, what kinds of regulatory issues you may face, what parts need to be done by a licensed professional and how it works out in terms of costs and savings.

There are many different types of wind turbines, each with certain characteristics, properties and advantages. Find out what separates different types, and how to choose the right one for your needs.

The outside edges of an exterior door in particular can make a significant contribution to your home's overall energy efficiency. See how draught stoppers, weather strips and sweeps can make a difference.

In most plumbing setups, it takes a while for hot water to reach the hot tap when it's turned on. Cold water diverters recycle the cold water which would otherwise pour down the drain in this time.

Hot water systems can chew through a lot of energy - and as a result these days they come with energy efficiency ratings to help you understand how best to choose the most efficient model.

Electric tank storage hot water systems are notorious for the amount of greenhouse emissions they're responsible for. As a result, they're now being phased out throughout Australia.

LED globes, or 'solid state lighting' is fast becoming the lighting of choice thanks to its amazing efficiency and long life.

These lamps are more efficient, readily available and burn far cooler that conventional incandescents and halogen globes.

Automated lighting involves not just your lights, but also your curtains, which control daylight. Find out how automated lighting can help control your energy usage and improve your home's ambience.

The difference between an efficient light globe and an inefficient one is amazing. To prevent unnecessary waste, inefficient incandescent GLS globes are being phased out in Australia.

Regulations exist in Australia to determine how much electricity you're allowed to use for lighting in your home, based on floor areas. Find out what's allowed and how to make the most of it.

To really consider how 'efficient' different types of globes are compared to others, it's important to look beyond basic consumption. How long will they last? Will the added expense pay itself off in energy savings?

Air conditioners come with labels these days that indicate how efficiently they're able to cool (and to heat, if they're reverse-cycle models). Find out more about these labels and what to look for.

Insulation can make a big difference to how long your bathtub is able to retain its heat, and as a result, might also significantly affect your gas or electricity bills.

Water-producing bathroom fittings in Australia need to comply with basic water-efficiency standards. As a part of the WELS scheme, they are rated and given a label that shows how efficient they are.