Saving energy
Did you know that in an average Australian home, around 40% of energy use is for heating and cooling? Water heating (hot water) can account for around 25%, electrical appliances can account for up to 30% and lighting between 8% to 15%. This can of course vary if you have halogen downlights, an old freezer or other inefficient appliances, or a pool pump or poor insulation.
By saving energy, Council and our local community can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our impact on climate change. Saving energy also leads to cost savings on your electricity and gas bills.
What you can do
- Make smarter purchasing decisions when replacing vehicles, whitegoods or even buildings and choose the most energy or fuel efficient. You can find a guide to environmentally sustainable homes on the Your Home website. For more information on energy star ratings of appliances (the more stars the better), visit the Energy Rating website.
- Find out about energy and hot water saving rebates and incentives, including the State Government’s Victorian Energy Upgrades program for households and businesses. Visit our Environmental Grants and Rebates page for more information.
- Switch to solar. Visit our Solar and Renewable Energy page for more information and great resources to help you work out if solar is right for you.
- To save money on your electricity or gas bills, search and compare rates and incentives from a range of retailers so you’ll have the information you need to confidently choose the most cost-effective energy company for you. Visit the Victorian Government’s Victorian Energy Compare website for an independent price comparator.
What we're doing
Council adopted its Towards Zero Emissions Plan (2019-2023) in 2019. The plan identifies our priorities for avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy saving and renewable energy technologies, and supporting the community to transition to a low carbon future. The Plan outlines Council's target of zero net emissions (carbon neutrality) for its own operations by 2025.
The recent climate emergency declaration by Council in November 2019 means there is also a greater need for Council to support practical action by our community to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Information on some of Council’s recent energy and greenhouse reduction actions can be found on Council’s Greenhouse and Water Performance page.