Efficient Initiatives has worked with a large community housing body to develop a tool to enable rapid selection of energy efficiency measures for individual homes. The tool builds on work which has been underway over a number of years to support residents in optimising their energy use while minimising spend.
The tool enables comparison of efficiency opportunities and “what if” scenarios: for example – would upgrading my insulation pay back faster than installing a newer heating/ cooling unit? Would it be worth while for me to install a new fridge and to throw out the old clunker? How much is that beer fridge costing me per year?
Efficient Initiatives has also worked with Owners Corporations to:
- Minimise their “common areas” energy consumption
- Monitor the consumption of the buildings as a whole and by individual part
- Refresh lighting – upgrading old inefficient lighting to motion sensing LED lights
- Upgrade pool pumps and pool heating
- Identify energy hogging equipment – detailed monitoring enables us to see where energy is being wasted and to achieve rapid payback on investment
- Engage with residents on energy efficiency opportunities.
We’ve worked with resorts as well, to identify areas for improvement of guest comfort while saving significantly on energy costs. At one site in northern Victoria:
- Current savings on electricity and gas amount to more than $50,000 per year. Once the rest of the energy efficiency project is completed, savings are expected to exceed $130,000 per year with payback within 7-8 years at current energy prices. With expected increases in energy prices the payback is likely to be close to 4 years.
- The three swimming pools are now useable for more of the year as a result of close fitting thermal blankets being installed and solar heating systems being optimised.
- Pool pumps have been replaced with variable speed drives which save significant amounts of electricity.
- Many of the original hot water systems throughout the complex have been replaced with evacuated tube solar systems: through applying our expertise the customer avoided the common traps associated with a solar hot water installation.
- Insulation is gradually being upgraded in the units onsite, making them far more comfortable and economic through reduction in air conditioning usage.
The images below show some of the facilities and installations on which we’ve worked:
The inverters at the North Fitzroy apartment block, converting DC power from the solar panels to AC electricity.
