The environmental house of the future

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The environmental house of the future

What your place could look like within the next several decades

Okay, so maybe it doesn’t quite look like the picture, but as we all start becoming more environmentally conscious, technology is adapting to create environmentally sustainable innovations that could significantly affect the way your home looks like right now. So let’s take a look into the environmental house of the future.Maximum natural lightCurrently there are new glass embedded paints being developed that will ensure your house is optimised for the entry of natural light. This will not only allow for your home to not be so dark and gloomy throughout the day, but it also means that you will consume less energy that would have otherwise been used for lighting in the home.SensorsAlthough sensors are already used in many taps to turn on when movement is detected nearby, the sensors of the future will be quite different. Water taps will be equipped with sensors that not only detects movement, but will also automatically turn off when it detects all dirt has been removed. Sensors will also be used in the home to detect when no one is present, which will communicate to interconnected appliances to use less energy, for example by turning down/off your heating when no one is in your home.Waste sortersRecycling will become a whole lot more complex in the future. But don’t worry; technology will do all the dirty work for you. Recycling products will go through a treatment that breaks matter down according to their size, physical and chemical properties. This will be done by microscopic nanobots that will allow for the materials to be recycled endlessly.Plants in the wallsRecently researchers at Purdue University have created an innovative Biowall that actually lives inside a home’s air conditioning, ventilation and heating system. So how does it work? The plants are stacked so that they can filter out airborne toxins. The researchers say that the Biowall will effectively help reduce energy costs as well.Smart plugsElectricity is constantly wasted on appliances being accidentally left on. Well currently there is a smart plug prototype that allows for socket-by-socket monitoring of its energy consumption. It also allows you to check remotely if you have accidentally left your TV on for example. You can then remotely shut it off.Trains as energyAnother innovative project in the making is focusing on the power of trains. We could be harnessing the power of the wind caused by passing trains to charge our appliances. Once again this is an ecologically sustainable innovation that will significantly cut down energy consumption.Biomorphic window skinsThis developing technology can be used to react the weather outside to insulate and absorb heat on the inside. It also has the capability to turn tinting up thus preventing too much light from entering on warmer days. And on the days when your home isn’t receiving enough light, it can turn clear.Collecting data on your refrigeratorHome energy servers are likely be installed in the homes of the future to collect data from appliances like your refrigerator. What this means is that the home energy server can make adjustments to the coolness level of your fridge, based on the data collected. Data collected could be based on your consumption, the usage of your other appliances and even on a broader scale, the usage of appliances by your neighbours. This means that it will be working on a larger scale to cut energy usage by collating information about energy use across your neighbourhood.In the meantime, if you’re after a team of electricians who can help you reduce your environmental footprint in a way that’s also likely to improve your electricity bills, we’d be delighted to talk. You can reach us on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note here.

Lighting Design – how to create the perfect ambience

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Lighting Design – how to create the perfect ambience

Have you ever noticed that having too many lights on can make your rooms feel bland and uninviting. And yet, too little light can make the room seem suffocating and gloomy.Just like the colour scheme within your home alters the feel of each room, the lighting and sources of lighting can act in much the same way. Lighting design matters.Adding different layers of light gives you so many more options for creating exactly the kind of ambience that’s required for any given moment, season or time of day.The use of ambient lighting is usually a combination of colours of lights as well as layers. The notion of lighting design and layering light is becoming increasingly popular as it allows diversity within a room. A shift from every day practical lighting can change to warm, comfortable and peaceful lighting all with the flick of a switch.If you want to highlight a particular feature of a room, maybe a painting, vase or table centerpiece, a spotlight either behind or directly above the area you wish to draw attention to can work quite effectively.The source of the lighting can vary, however, the most practical lighting is from the ceiling. Table and floor lamps cab be added as a second layer to add the depth to the room. The second layer of lighting has the added advantage of being used as practical lighting when a more relaxed tone is required.A third layer of lighting can be implemented with the use of candles. The natural flame from a candle is the perfect last layer as it gives off a sense of meditative relaxation to the room due to the warm yellow light it gives off.

Cool white light

Cool white lights typically give off blue tones. They are infamously known to give off rather unattractive lighting as they cast light on imperfections and can make surroundings look cold, dull and lifeless.

They are generally used in displays that require the emphasis of cool tones such as snow, ice or water related displays or for spaces that need to feel ‘clinical’ – such as clinics, dental surgeries and retail shops.

Task lighting

Task lighting has become popular giving the cool white light bulb the chance to make an appearance in decorative rooms. They produce a clear, clean and direct light that allows the room to feel more open.

Natural white lighting

Natural white lights mark the middle ground of hues on the coloured light scale. It gives off a very natural light that often represents a nice comfortable place with a very casual environment. The use of this hue creates a natural and fresh feel to any room providing a high level of light without glare. This level of luminosity is perfect for numerous colour schemes which undoubtedly makes it the most popular hue to use throughout the home or office.Natural light is in such high demand as it makes everything look appealing. Lighting schemes relying on natural light are called day lighting as it resembles similarity in hue to the natural colour of sunlight.

What about lighting design for room ambience and tone?

Quite similarly to the colour of a room, lighting can dramatically alter the ambience, tone and feel of a room. If your home is feeling on the dull side, ask your electrician to change the hue of your lighting to either a warm white for a cozy effect, natural white for an open fresh effect or a cool white for that crisp clean effect.

If you’re looking to give you home a lift, or you’re doing renovations and want to create warm inviting spaces and want someone to help you get your lighting design sorted, we’d be delighted to talk to you. You can call us on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note.

Electricity safety at home

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Electricity safety at home

There can be many electrical hazards and dangers around your home that you need to be aware of in order to have a level of electricity safety at home. Electricity has the incredible power to help us see better, cook quicker and keep us warm at night (or cool in summer). However, electricity can also harm as well, if it’s not maintained correctly. Which is why we’ve put together a handy list of tips and rules to remember.

  1. Make sure you don’t overload your power-points and power-boards – If you do, you could significantly damage the electrical system in your house. And in worst case scenarios, you could potentially cause a house fire. If possible, try to avoid using ‘piggy-back’ (aka double adaptor upon double adaptor) set-ups in plugs that are designed for only one or two plugs.
  2. Keep your cords and outlets clean, neat and tidy – Make sure you regularly check all your electrical equipment for signs of wear and tear. Always make sure your cords are tucked away, especially if you have any little people or pets roaming your house! And finally, make sure there is enough ventilation around all your power points, especially under beds and furniture and around TVs.
  3. Don’t just yank out an electrical cord from the wall – Not only will this cause damage to the appliance, it can also damage the power point or the outlet. If your power point is damaged and you go to plug a cord in, you could end up getting a nasty shock.
  4. Keep all your electrical equipment well away from any water – If possible, keep all of your electrical appliances out of the bathroom – as this room is water central! This includes using a hairdryer or a radio/TV near a bathtub or sink!
  5. Put safety caps on all electrical plugs that aren’t being used – This is a super safety precaution that every household should have in place, especially if there are children around.
  6. Always turn off electrical appliances, especially gaming consoles, when they’re not being used – Appliances that use a lot of power have a tendency to heat up fast, especially gaming consoles like a Wii, Xbox or Playstation – which is why everyone should turn them off as much as possible. And once they’re left on and the room is empty – they can be on for hours and hours (just think of all those extra $$ on power!) And here comes the hardest part.. remind your kids to switch the off button too!
  7. Don’t EVER climb power poles, electrical towers or a fence that’s surrounding an electrical station – I know that seems like an odd thing to say, but weirdly enough, there are people who do.
  8. Clean the lint from your clothes dryer after every use. Dryers get hot (no surprises there) and lint is particularly susceptible to catching fire.

And two more especially directed towards the kids:

  1. Before you climb a tree, look up (and down)! If there is a power line nearby, pick another tree! And always remember, be careful when climbing trees as you don’t want to have a nasty fall!
  2. Always ask for an adult’s help before using any electrical equipment – unless it’s turning the switch off on your gaming console, make sure you always ask your parents to give you a hand.

And finally an extra one. The electricity rule that all of us should know…

Never, ever put a fork, knife, spatula, back-scratcher (yes, we’ve seen that too) or metal of any sort in the toaster or other electrical appliance – we’ve all been warned but it’s amazing how many people forget. Even if the toaster is switched off, poking a fork to grab your stuck piece of toast is not a good idea.

If you want to be sure of electricity safety at home, have one of our qualified electricians do a Randall’s five point safety check with your next electrical service. We’d love to help! Give us a call on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note.

What to do in an electrical emergency

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What to do in an electrical emergency

If an electrical emergency arose today, would you know what to do?

According to the folks at the weather bureau, we’ve just had one of the wettest March/Aprils on record and when the ground is wet, trees are known to fall over and into power-lines. So we thought we might discuss what to do in an electrical emergency.

Electrical emergency from storm damage

Gusty storms happen can pick up speed and send unsecured items into power-lines or uproot trees. So, after a storm, make sure that when you venture outside you’re alert to the possibility of danger. When power-lines fall to the ground, they are still live, leaving potentially deadly trails hidden under debris.There are a few things you should do to stay safe in an electrical emergency:
  1. Before moving any fallen trees or tree branches do a visual check to ensure that they’re not lodged in or touching power-lines.
  2. If the tree has fallen onto power-lines or brought the power-lines down, do not go near the power-line or touch them.
  3. Alert anyone else on the street of the potential dangers
  4. Notify your local power companies of any damage that may have occurred during the storm.

What about potential electrical emergency dangers inside your home?

Winter can also bring with it an increased chance of electrical shocks or electrical fires especially from heaters and electric blankets.

So, before you plug in any electrical appliance, that you’ve not used since last winter – particularly if you’ve stored it in the roof, garage or shed, make sure you do a visual check of the cord and appliance for any damage that may have occurred since you last used it. Critters that live in roofs and sheds, love chewing those sorts of cords.

If the cord is frayed, you can see wires, or your visual check reveals something else that’s just not right, either throw the item away or have it repaired by a qualified professional. It’s absolutely not worth the risk to yours or your loved ones lives.

If it looks okay but sparks when you turn it on, turn it off straight away and follow the same advice above.

And don’t forget, when you leave home or go to bed at night, make sure that all your heaters and electric blankets are turned off. We hate seeing the firies talking about homes that go up in smoke because of the heater being left on or an electric blanket that overheated, shorted and caused a fire.

What if there is an electrical fire?

In the event of an electrical fire, turn off the power and call triple zero. Never throw water on the fire or use a water-based fire extinguisher because it won’t work. Only use a CO2 fire extinguisher to fight an electrical fire.

What if someone suffers an electrical shock?

If someone does suffer an electrical shock, immediately call Triple Zero (000). The operator will not only tell you what to do and send help, but they’ll also notify the power company.

The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t touch the victim whilst they’re still in contact with a live power source. Only once the power has been turned off at the main switch and the appliance removed from the plug is it safe to touch the victim. Here are some simple tips to deal with an electrical emergency from electrical shock:

  1. Turn the main switch off for the electricity to the building.
  2. Dial Triple Zero – 000 and ask for help.
  3. Once the main power has been turned off, turn off the appliance at the switch and unplug the item that gave the electrical shock. Once it is safe to do so, give the victim first aid.
  4. Do not touch any burns, blisters or remove clothing of the victim because you’re likely to do more harm than good.
  5. Stay with the victim until help arrives.

We hope you don’t need to use any of these ‘what if’ instructions this Winter. Please remember that electricity is serious business – best handled by a licensed professional. If you have electrical issues that you’d like sorted out in your home or office, we’d be delighted to help you. You can call us on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note.

Attention small business energy efficiencies pay

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Attention small business energy efficiencies pay

Last blog post we talked about lighting and office equipment and what you can do to stem the flow of cash out your business’ door from those hungry beasts.

This post we thought we’d continue on the same track of small business energy efficiencies – looking at three more big users of energy in the workplace. Heating/cooling, refrigeration and hot water. No point in donating more cash than you have to, to your power company.

So without further ado, let’s continue.

Small business energy efficiency 3 – heating, ventilation and air conditioning

This is likely to be your biggest energy user – which means, it’s also represents the greatest potential to save cash. On a hot summer’s day, an air conditioner is a must (especially in Australia). Small business owners (and home owners) just need to be aware of how to use them most efficiently.

  • When not in use, turn the systems off. If no-one’s using the room, turn the heater or air conditioner off and always check that it’s off before you leave.
  • Open the windows or consider ceiling fans.
  • If it has an ‘auto’ setting, use it.
  • Replace the filters regularly. Clean air systems will keep it performing at it’s most energy-efficient peak.

Small business energy efficiency 4 – refrigeration

Another big energy user! If you’re a owner of a restaurant, cafe, convenience store or anything similar – reducing your refrigeration usage will save you a lot – trust me!

  • Keep the doors shut to eliminate any temperature changes.
  • Check the temperature settings on the equipment.
  • Load and distribute the items in the fridge correctly.
  • Clean the cooling coils and check the seals.
  • Don’t put ‘hot’ food in the fridge. Wait until it’s cooled.

Small business energy efficiency 5 – hot water use

Make every drop count. No matter how must you use, it pays to cut back on unnecessary water and energy use. So make it count.

  • Reduce the amount of water you use.
  • Reduce the temperature of the hot water.
  • Turn your water heater off when it’s not being used.
  • Keep your equipment well maintained.

So there you have it – what you need to look out for and five great tips on how to save energy.

Not only will the small business energy efficiencies you find save you on costs and enhance your contribution to preserving our environment, there are a huge amount of hidden indirect benefits as well. Hint: customers will love your enthusiasm!

And the best thing about swapping your small business energy efficiencies is that it’s cheap and DIY. There’s a raft of people out there that would be more than happy to help you out – like us!

We can also help you put together an energy plan that is suited to your business’ needs.

Of course if you need electrical or other trade services, we’d be delighted to talk to you. You can call us on 1300 045 103 or get a quote now. And we’d love it if you joined us on linkedin, facebook or twitter.

Attention Small Business Energy Efficiency Pays – Part 1

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Attention Small Business Energy Efficiency Pays – Part 1

In one of our latest blogs, we spoke about how much money Australia could save – it was up in the billions! But now I want to focus on how much money YOU can save – especially those of you who run small businesses.

Many small business owners don’t realise the money they’re burning due to energy inefficiencies that occur all day, every day in their offices.

For the small business owner, chances are you focus your time on running your own business rather thinking about the energy that keeps the business going (which is as it should be – good choice). However, cash flow can be tight enough at the best of times, so there’s no point in wasting money on energy if you don’t have to.

After reading this, you’ll be on your way to saving energy and valuable dollars that can be put to better use in your business. We all know how valuable those dollars can be, so I recommend you jump on board the energy efficiency train! If you’re in business energy efficiency really can pay serious dividends.

To get started, the most important aspect of preserving energy is knowing where it is most likely being wasted. It sounds difficult, but don’t worry – you’ll find the answers below (and in next week’s blog post).

Finding business energy efficiency – what you need to look out for (and tips on how to save!): 

Lighting – The easiest and most enjoyable way to save on energy (and also improve the look, feel and comfort of your business). Making changes to the way you light up your business should be the first place you start when saving on energy. It’s easy and it’s enjoyable because who doesn’t like a good ray of sunshine.

  • Turn off your lights when they are not needed – yes, really. During the day, open up the blinds and let the natural light in!
  • Upgrade your lighting. There are so many energy efficient lights on the market, why not use them. Fluorescent and halogen lamps are a good place to start.
  • Clean your lights! It sounds silly; but dust and buildup will reduce your lights’ life expectancy and output.
Office Equipment – This is a great place to look for energy saving. Have you thought about the equipment that you’re using and how much energy it is wasting by just being turned on? Maybe it’s time to start! If your business is office-based, think about the computers, printers and screens that are turned on (and chances are left on). If they’re turned on but you think they aren’t using energy because no one is on them.. guess again!
  • Turn equipment off whenever possible. Not only on the device but at the powerpoint as well. 
  • Electronic devices still use energy even if they’re on standby mode! Turn them off every night and on weekends (if no one is in).
  • Use energy-saving devices. Buy energy star labelled devices! If they cost a little extra, just think about the money they will save you in the long run.
Next post we’ll look at another three big contributors to your energy bill – heating/cooling, hot water and refrigeration and how you can save on those.We’d love it if you joined us on linkedin, facebook or twitter.Of course if you need electrical or other trade services, we’d be delighted to talk to you. You can call us on 1300 045 103 or get a quote now.

Hiring an electrician – what you need to know

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Hiring an electrician – what you need to know

You don’t need to be an electrician to know something’s amiss in your home. Maybe sparks are flying, your old washing machine created a power surge or suddenly the lights just won’t turn on or your switchboard just keeps flipping off.

If that’s the case, you’re probably going to need an electrician. Whether it’s lighting, wiring or even electrical safety checks, you don’t want to make a mistake when choosing an electrician. Almost everything electrical has the potential to cause serious damage or injury, so finding the right electrician is important. Safety is your number one priority (ours too).

So without further ado here are our tips on what you need to know when hiring an electrician!

Ask your electrician the right questions

When it comes to your home, and the safety of your family and friends, sometimes you can never ask too many questions; but maybe you should focus on the right kind of questions. Whilst it’s easy to focus on cost, there are other questions that are as important – if not more important.

  • Do you have all the necessary qualifications to be doing this work?
  • Have you got public liability insurance?
  • Do you have experience and expertise in this particular area?
  • Does the quote cover all the work, including materials?
  • Are there any guarantees for your work?
  • Will you clean up when you’re done?

And finally

  • What needs to be done and how much will it cost?

Ask your electrician for references

You’ve gone to the Yellow Pages, searched the web, looked at your local flyers – and they’re all looking much the same. You might even look at your electrician’s website or social media pages!

But if you’re keen to find out what the tradie you’re considering is really like to have in your home or office – you’ll need to read their testimonials. Or better still, if your job is of considerable size (or budget) ask to speak with one or a couple of their satisfied customers. Firms that aren’t forthcoming, should be struck off your list.

You might also ask friends and family. It’s likely that someone you know has had electrical work done some time in the last year, so what their experience was like. If it’s a horror story and you’re looking for an electrician in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane – we’d love to talk to you.

Ask your electrician for more detail about your quote

When you get your quote, make sure you understand everything that’s written down – you don’t want to miss anything here. If there’s something you don’t understand, make sure you ask.

Communicate

You want to be on the same page as your electrician when it comes down to the work that needs to be done. Make sure you tell them the full extent of your problem and what you think needs to be done (if you have an idea of what it might be). Follow that up by listening to the solution and getting on board with all the repairs that are necessary.

How do I find an electrician?

Sometimes it’s as easy as jumping online! At Randall Electrics and Trade Services, you can request a quote via our website and our electrician team will be in contact with you as soon as we can.For electrical emergencies, call us on 1300 045 103 for information on our on call electrician!If you’d prefer to deal with tradespeople you can trust, who arrive on time and clean up after themselves, call us today on 1300 045 103 or get a quote.

Creating home energy efficiency could save the economy billions

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Creating home energy efficiency could save the economy billions

Did you know that improving Australia’s energy efficiency could save our country billions? Not only will it save us all money and improve our environment, it could also put billions back into our economy.

Recent research by the Climate Institute has found that more investment in energy efficiency will add billions to the Australian economy. An improvement as small as 1% would add $26 billion by 2030!

John Connor, CEO of Climate Institute, believes an improvement in energy efficiency is a must given the PM’s proposal to lift annual productivity growth by 2%. “This is an important contribution to improving Australia’s productivity as well as cutting our energy bills and carbon pollution,” Connor said.

To give you a better idea on the state of Australia’s energy resources, Australia’s energy waste not only costs the economy billions of dollars each year, it also reduces our overall economic growth.

Canada leads the way when it comes to energy efficiency – having improved its efficiencies more than twice ours. And the rest of our fellow developed nations, are only just behind Canada.

By comparison, Australia is failing to match the standards of improvement of energy efficiency. Sure we have some policies in place to help like the now infamous Carbon Tax, now likely to be renamed an emissions trading scheme.

But these efforts can be better – much more can be done and needs to be done.

Opportunities for improvement

ClimateWorks Australia has identified where some of Australia’s biggest energy opportunities lie.Industrial sector – This sector is currently only implementing less than half the energy savings it has identified, leaving roughly $2 billion a year on the table.Commercial buildings – It’s been identified that we could save a huge 37% of the energy we use in commercial buildings. Stay tuned for a blog on that!!Fuel – If Australia were to catch up with European fuel economy standards, we could collectively avoid spending $8 billion on petrol, that’s an extra $850 a year for the average driver. I’m sure everyone who drives would be happy with that result – that’s certainly a goodly portion of a holiday paid for right there.Although these are where the main opportunities lie, we can all do our bit to make our own  Australian household as energy efficient as possible.

Playing your part

Did you know that turning your TV off at the wall rather than leaving it in power standby will improve your home energy efficiency and can reduce carbon pollution by around 20 kilograms per year? And what about your DVR, stereo and all those kitchen appliances we tend to leave on.

Not only will the environment and economy benefit, you will too. Improving our national energy efficiency will effectively help you save money with lower fuel and electricity costs. It would also create a cleaner, more sustainable environment as more efficient energy use would decrease our environmental pollution.

You can also start off by implementing little changes around your home such as using a clothes line when it’s sunny, watching the temperature of your air-conditioning (in both Summer and Winter) and checking the energy efficiency of any appliances you’re thinking of purchasing.

For more information on how to use the energy within your home or office more efficiently, read our first blog.

Of course, if you’re considering your office or home energy efficiency, we’d be delighted to help.
You can give us a call on 1300 045 103.

Thermographic testing & what it can do for you

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Thermographic testing & what it can do for you

Given it’s cold outside and everyone wants that air-con turned up nice and warm – cranking through the power, we thought now might be a good excuse to talk about the importance of thermographic testing. Should your switchboard fail, it won’t just be the aircon that’s likely to go down. Depending on how many boards you have in your premises, it could be the whole business or significant chunks of your business left without power. Just think what that would do to productivity – not to mention the whining that would ensue because people are cold. But wait, you don’t have to wait for it to melt down. Thermographic testing allows us to see into the future – so that you can take preventative action sooner rather than later. Thermographic testing requires no contact with live wires and is a non-intrusive safety method use to protect the integrity and foundation of your business. A qualified Randall Electrics & Communications electrician can assess your property and make sure that your electrics are functioning safely and securely. A thermographic test is often required as part of a fire risk assessment by your business’ insurance company or as part of a routine inspection and testing of electrical installations within the business.

The importance of thermographic testing

To ensure the protection and safety it’s necessary to monitor your appliances and switchboards. When your premises’ electrical system fails, it could lead to fire and even greater damage. Almost as bad, when your business’ electrical system fails it can lead to significant downtime at best and a closed workplace at worst. Hence the benefits of having a thermo test are as follows.
  • A thermographic test is fast and reliable – there’s no lengthy service times or waiting around and you can trust that it will produce a correct analysis of your property.
  • Our cameras are portable and produce thorough results, comprehensive imagery and are able to report the extent of damage or corrosion (if found) on the spot!
  • The test is able to pinpoint leaks, blockages, hot and cold spots, and damaged or missing insulation – making sure that any potential for business and property damage is found.
  • It can also be used as a quality control method by evaluating your product to ensure it is functioning to its full capacity.
  • Above all else, the thermographic test is a saver – of time, energy and potentially lives.
Locating potential problems before they become critical, means you’ll be able to make sure that your business is running safely and securely – and everyone has warm toes this winter.   If we can help ensure your staff and customers’ toes stay warm this winter we’d be delighted to book your premises in for thermographic testing. You can call us on 1300 045 103 or drop us a note. If there’s any other electrical work you need done, you can call us or request a quote.

Easy energy efficiencies – home & office

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Easy energy efficiencies – home & office

With the cost of energy on the rise and the environmental impact of fossil fuels becoming more well known, individuals and commercial and industrial enterprises  are looking to both improve their energy efficiency, reduce energy wastage and where possible minimise their environmental footprint.

So how can you find energy efficiencies?

Lighting

Energy efficiencies can be found by switching to energy efficient lighting is a simple and cost effective way to reduce your energy usage. In fact, you could halve your household lighting costs by replacing your old incandescent lights with LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and fluorescent lights. These will light your space more efficiently and you’ll find you may only need to have one light on instead of two or three for the same space.

As well as the simple step of turning off lights when you’re not using a space, you might also consider installing movement sensors that turn light on and off automatically – especially in rooms like toilets, storerooms and basements where infrequent use might mean lights are left on for large periods of time by mistake.

Use timers, daylight controls and motion sensors in common areas like stairwells, hallways and garages in multi-unit dwellings or commercial premises.

And don’t forget to clean your lights regularly – so that they can actually do the job they’re designed to do.

Cooling

Everyone wants to be comfortable in summer, but that often means different things to different people, so it can be difficult to find a balance. If you’re able, you might start by opening any available windows for cross ventilation early in the day – but only if you dont have the airconditioning on. Don’t forget to close them in the heat of the day.

Install blinds, window films/tint or awnings on windows that face east or west and are affected by direct sunlight.

Have your lighting checked. Lights often generate extra heat which you might be able to diffuse with more energy efficient lighting options.

If your airconditioning unit is old, not well maintained or installed correctly, it’s likely that you’ll be paying more on your energy bills than you need to. You may well find the cost of a new one, will be off-set by the savings you make on energy.

Set your airconditioner to between 23-26 degrees in Summer. For each degree below that, you’ll use approximately 8% more energy.

And don’t forget to check the filters at the beginning and end of each season as that can dramatically affect your unit’s functioning.

Appliances and machinery

Given it’s almost Christmas and many businesses close for at least a week and families travel away from their homes, try turning off your unnecessary appliances and pieces of office machinery (that aren’t critical) off at the powerpoint when not in use. Yes, even clear out the fridge and leave the door ajar (to prevent mould).

If you’re looking to find your home, office or factory energy efficiencies in 2013, we’d be delighted to conduct an energy efficiency audit. You can call us on 1300 045 103.