Rising interest rates leading to soaring mortgages and other cost of living pressures have motivated many Australian households to look at ways to improve their finances and the environment.
It seems difficult times call for action as more than half of Australian homeowners (58 per cent) have made improvements to their homes to reduce costs. The vast majority of these (41 per cent) installed sustainable features to reduce their energy consumption, according to tradie marketplace website hipages.
Solar panel installation was the most popular sustainable measure for Australia’s homeowners.
This was followed by installing new, energy efficient appliances, hipages reported, and third on the list was installing energy efficient lighting. LED lights use 75 per cent less energy than incandescent lighting.
It’s not just homes but vehicles that are moving from fossil fuels with a massive 218 per cent increase in energy chargers for EVs installed in homes from 2021-22, hipages state. As reported in The Fifth Estate, a record number of EV vehicles were registered last month – 8124 in total. Year to date sales are 32,050, which is a massive rise of 275.2 per cent from 2022 sales.
Other actions that can save the environment, and improve household finances include:
Fix it: Turn off lights when you leave the room; use natural light whenever possible; seal leaks in the roof and windows, and seal doors to maintain comfortable temperatures and reduce heating and cooling costs.
Save it: Reduce water bills by turning off taps immediately after use, repair leaking pipes and use low-flow showerheads.
Grow it: Just about anyone, even people living in apartments or rental properties, can grow a few herbs and vegetables in pots and have containers for composting organic waste.
Swap it: Before going to the shops to buy an item look online to see if you can get it for free or at a small cost, or swap it for something that you don’t want.