Story Title: Energy Efficiency
Episode: Seven
Date: November 15th 2009
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane and Chris Ferreira

Reducing demands on energy is something we can all play a part in. Chris and Trevor are huge advocates of Western Power’s Beat the Peak campaign, and they have a few tips to help reduce your family’s home time energy use between 4pm and 9pm, which will not only be saving money, but helping the environment at the same time.

About the ‘Beat the Peak’ Campaign

Our electricity network comes under enormous pressure each day when families come home from work and school. The way we use electricity in the evening costs our community millions each year. Our electricity network has to be designed to ensure it can deal with rapid increases in electricity loads between 4pm and 9pm.  In summer this becomes increasingly so, as around 90% of homes in Perth now have air-conditioners.

Western Power’s Top 10 Ways to ‘Beat the Peak at Hometime’

1. Air conditioning: set air conditioners to 24 degrees Celsius or above. Evaporative coolers produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than refrigerative systems. Ceiling fans have the lowest emissions of all types of cooling systems.
   
   
2. Restrict pool pump use: Unless you are swimming, avoid running your pool pump between 4pm and 9pm. Use a timer on pool pumps and reduce operating times over winter.
   
   
3. Switch off: turn off appliances, such as computers and televisions, at the wall, if possible. Standby power can account for as much as 10% of total power bills.
   
   
4. Use major appliances at bed-time   use washing machines, dishwashers, dryers or any major appliance in low energy use times of the day and avoid using them between 4 pm and 9 pm.
   
   
5. Hot water systems: By replacing your electric hot water system with an energy efficient gas boosted solar hot water system you could save approximately 4,000 kg of greenhouse gases, or 270 days of electricity consumption each year.
   
   
6. Create clever garden designs: reduce energy demands in hot weather. Planting trees around the perimeter of your property creates a wind break, shades the garden and house protecting it from the direct energy of the sun. This provides the tree energy and it in turns cools your house reducing your power bill.
   
   
7. Install ceiling insulation: installing ceiling insulation can significantly reduce cooling and heating requirements.
   
   
8. Use lower wattage globes: Fit lower wattage globes or compact fluorescent lamps in bright lights, especially down lights and spotlights, and reduce greenhouse gases by up to 75% compared to incandescent lights. Replace conventional low voltage halogen down lights with LED down light kits.
   
   
9. Energy ratings: Always choose energy efficient appliances. Buy a fridge with an extra star on its label and cut greenhouse gas emissions, in some cases, by close to 100 kilograms each year.
   
   
10. TVs: LCD TVs generally use 50% less energy than a plasma TV. Consider only running your TV when everyone is watching and turn it off at the switch when not in use.

Contact
Western Power
Head Office:
363 Wellington Street
Perth, WA, 6000
13 10 87
www.westernpower.com.au/beatthepeak