Energy Efficient Houses:
Further Action

For us to have energy efficient houses there are many no or minimal cost measures we can enact. Beyond those, we will need to invest some further resources into making our homes not only comfortable but also environmentally and therefore future friendly.

This is an essential, though somewhat expensive thing to do. We can all benefit from installing a rain water storage tank in our homes. This has many benefits in the long term, both financial and environmental.

There is Government funding for this in most areas of Australia and good providers will assist you in completing the necessary documentation to obtain the rebate. There will still be a cost to you though. Because of this it is important to get the best deal possible and buy a tank that meets both your home and budget needs.

Financially, a water tank will relieve the burden water bills place on your budget. Prices for fresh water are high in most developed countries and will rise further should significant climate shifts result in lower rainfall in the catchments areas that supply major cities.

Many cities rely on desalinated water to meet their needs. Desalination is an expensive process as it requires a large energy input to remove the salt from the water to a level that is fit for human consumption. This is the environmental cost. Though sea water is abundant and costs nothing for the desalination plant to acquire, the electricity used adds to our Carbon Dioxide emissions. Clearly reducing this is in all our interests, so making our homes energy efficient houses is also dependent on our water consumption.


Buy a Green Lawn Mower


Petrol powered lawn mowers produce an amazing variety of pollutants, mainly due to their inefficient burning of fossil fuels. An electric or hand powered green lawn mower overcomes these problems and is a solid investment in a cleaner atmosphere and lower personal greenhouse gas emissions.


Reduce Electricity Consumption


It really isn't that hard to cut your electricity use by 20%, 30%, even 50%. Saving electricity is easy if you understand the methodology - measure usage, find where the waste is, and cut it.


Green Transport


Walking from place to place is about as fuel efficient a mode of transport as is possible. When this is not practical, a very good alternative for urban and suburban areas would be to use a bicycle or an electric bicycle. This British site on Electric bikes shows how efficient these machines can be.


Use Higher Octane Fuel


It would be great to be able to afford a new electric car that can be powered from solar panels on the roofs of our homes but such expenses are beyond the means of most people. One way we can contribute to a cleaner environment is to use higher Octane fuel in our vehicles. Find out how this works in What is Octane?


Use Solar Cookers


Solar cookers are a great way to save on either gas or electricity. They can be used in the home and portable models are available for camping. For information on solar cookers and cooking tips, have a look at this good Solar Cooking website.


Support Solar Charities


Supporting solar charities helps both to promote solar power and is an investment in all our futures. This, along with purchasing Carbon Offset Credits, allows us to have a more positive impact without having to make large, immediate and unsustainable changes to our lifestyles.

Return from Energy Efficient Houses to the Green Planet home page for more Solar Power Facts.