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A well-designed home could result in significant savings on your energy bill, as well as creating a more comfortable living environment all year round.

There are a few simple steps you can take when planning and building your new home. These actions will make your home more comfortable and lower your running costs.

Energy

When you build an energy efficient all-electric home you will avoid gas connection and annual gas usage costs, as well as the upfront construction costs of connecting to gas and running gas plumbing through your home.

Roof Colour

A light-coloured roof will reflect the heat away from your home and will help reduce your energy bills by keeping your roof cavity cool during summer, lowering the overall temperature of your home. Your home should have a lighter coloured roof with a solar absorptance value of less than 0.5. Discover roof suppliers below in the resources section.

Hot Water System

A typical home spends about one-third of their energy bill on hot water. For your energy efficient home you can install either an electric heat pump (heat pump) or an electric solar hot water system as these systems are highly energy efficient.

Cooking

Installing a more energy efficient electric cooktop will reduce your energy consumption and can provide benefits such as a faster heating time, a safer home and a cooktop that is easy to clean. Different types of electric cooktops available include:

  • Induction
  • Ceramic
  • Radiant coil
  • Solid hotplate

Energy Monitoring

One of the most effective ways to save money on your energy bills is to understand how and when you consume energy in your home. An energy monitoring system gives a visual indication of how much energy your home is using. It can measure, show, and store energy generation and consumption data. To get the most information out of your energy monitoring system, it should:

  1. Monitor all electrical phases of your Solar photovoltaic (PV) system
  2. Be hard-wired to all energy systems
  3. Display and record home electricity use in real time (or close to real time)
  4. Communicate with a smart phone application or website

Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling the spaces in your home accounts for about half of the total energy consumed in your home, so it needs to be efficient. There are several electric options on the market, so get advice about the best option for your home. These include:

  • Split system reverse cycle
  • Electric ducted split system air conditioner
  • Ducted whole of home evaporative cooling with a self-closing damper
  • Ground source heat pump In-slab hydronic heating with an electric boiler
  • Ceiling fans

EV Charging Point

Consider installing an Electric Vehicle Charging power point. A dedicated 32 amp circuit with a 15 amp powerpoint installed on the wall of the car space or garage will future proof you house for electric vehicles.

For your safety, installation must be carried out by an ACT licensed electrician. We recommend labelling the powerpoint, isolator and circuit breaker as Electric Vehicle Charging Point.

Solar PV

Solar PV is a technology that converts sunlight (solar radiation) into electricity using semiconductors. Solar PV systems enable you to generate your own electricity, helping to reduce your energy bills. In the ACT, solar PV panels generate the most energy throughout the year when they are:

  1. Facing north (or closest to)
  2. Not overshadowed by buildings or other structures

When designing your home, you will need to consider the roof orientation, pitch and available space for the solar PV system so it is able to receive solar radiation and generate electricity.

Resources

Your Home

For extra information about to design an energy efficient, sustainable home, visit the Your Home website.

Sustainable Household Scheme

The ACT Government has developed several programs, incentives and schemes to support you building a more sustainable home, including for zero interest loans through the Sustainable Household Scheme. For more information about how to apply for the scheme click here.