What you can expect from your Home Assessment
As part of the Federal Government's Green Loans Program, I am available to do a free sustainability assessment of your home and household needs. (Note: following Minister Garrett's Feb 19th announcement regarding the Green Loans Program, I expect to be able to offer assessments for the remainder of this year, however the interest-free loans option is no longer available, unless we hear otherwise from the government).
With or without a loan, the assessment is still a great service and will set up an action plan for you to priorisize your work.
Think of it like a big stocktake of your home and the things you have in it. We look at your bills and what tariffs you are on, how much you spend on electricity compared to the "average" Australian home, find any hidden power-guzzlers that might be racking up your power bills, and discuss options for the things you want to change.
We have a look at whether solar power is a viable option for your household and the type (size, cost and location) of system/s that would be suitable for you - if any. (Often, the biggest savings can come from simply changing the way we do things).
We'll more than likely get onto the topics of veggie gardening and low tech design solutions for problem areas of the house too.
The process usually takes around 90 minutes - 2 hours, and depending on ADSL coverage, can often be done online, so you can see which rooms and which activities are using the most energy and water as we update the information you provide.
View sample report below (500k ppt file)
With or without a loan, the assessment is still a great service and will set up an action plan for you to priorisize your work.
Think of it like a big stocktake of your home and the things you have in it. We look at your bills and what tariffs you are on, how much you spend on electricity compared to the "average" Australian home, find any hidden power-guzzlers that might be racking up your power bills, and discuss options for the things you want to change.
We have a look at whether solar power is a viable option for your household and the type (size, cost and location) of system/s that would be suitable for you - if any. (Often, the biggest savings can come from simply changing the way we do things).
We'll more than likely get onto the topics of veggie gardening and low tech design solutions for problem areas of the house too.
The process usually takes around 90 minutes - 2 hours, and depending on ADSL coverage, can often be done online, so you can see which rooms and which activities are using the most energy and water as we update the information you provide.
View sample report below (500k ppt file)
| sample_report.ppt |
Preparing for your Home Assessment
Being prepared and having a few things ready for our scheduled appointment,will give us more time to discuss your individual household needs and options.
1. Have a read of the Declaration form I will ask you sign before we start (below) Please disregard the loans terms and conditions.
1. Have a read of the Declaration form I will ask you sign before we start (below) Please disregard the loans terms and conditions.
| Household Declaration |
2. If possible, have 6-12 months of electricity, gas and water bills (rates) handy on the day- this will help us work out if our estimates of your useage are accurate, before we hit the 'send' button on your assessment!
3. Do a bit of detective work. OH&S regs prohibit assessors carrying out certain activities at your house (ie getting up in your roof to check insulation) The three things that would really useful for you to check out prior, are:
1) find out if, and what type, of insulation might be in your roof, walls or underfloor,
2) find out the capacity (litres) of your hot water tank, if not easy for us to access, and whether anyone in your house has adjusted or looked at the thermostat setting. If we can't determine this, we'll use the default values given.
3) the wattage and/or approximate date of any 'old' heating or cooling appliances (ie fridge, heaters, air conditioners, washing machines and dryers are the main ones - anything pre 1995) Appliances have generally become more efficient over the years, but we don't want to recommend people throw out perfectly good 'old' appliances, if a simple change in how we use them, makes them more efficient.
I have a new toy - an energy meter - that we can use to test any old appliances and find out immediately how much they cost you to run, so bring out your dead!
3. Do a bit of detective work. OH&S regs prohibit assessors carrying out certain activities at your house (ie getting up in your roof to check insulation) The three things that would really useful for you to check out prior, are:
1) find out if, and what type, of insulation might be in your roof, walls or underfloor,
2) find out the capacity (litres) of your hot water tank, if not easy for us to access, and whether anyone in your house has adjusted or looked at the thermostat setting. If we can't determine this, we'll use the default values given.
3) the wattage and/or approximate date of any 'old' heating or cooling appliances (ie fridge, heaters, air conditioners, washing machines and dryers are the main ones - anything pre 1995) Appliances have generally become more efficient over the years, but we don't want to recommend people throw out perfectly good 'old' appliances, if a simple change in how we use them, makes them more efficient.
I have a new toy - an energy meter - that we can use to test any old appliances and find out immediately how much they cost you to run, so bring out your dead!
