Environment House is a non-profit company committed to sustainability.
Ross Porter is among the home energy advisors who conduct audits, which aim to identify excessive water, electricity and gas usage.
Home audits take up to two hours and review the household’s energy, water, waste and transport use, and provide a brief report with recommendations for improvements.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“I show people what they can do to save money,” he said.
Mr Porter said that typically auditors assessed a year’s worth of bills to identify usage patterns.
“If we’re looking at water usage we will see a pattern, like reticulation and overwatering; in older homes, one in 10 toilets has a leak,” he said.
Mr Porter said often only small changes were needed to make big improvements around the house.
“One drop of water every second is around 7000 litres a year, and if it turns into a run it can be up to 70,000 litres a year,” he said.
To ensure a household gets the most out of the recommendations and stays on track, the Environment House representative returns for three and twelve-month coaching follow ups.
“It’s good to have more control over your usage, and make adjustments to reduce energy and water consumption (to) significantly lower bills,” Mr Porter said.
The City of Canning is offering 20 audits to residents.
To book sustainability home audit call Brenda on 9840 9232 or email brenda@envirohouse.org.au.
Ross Porter’s tips to save money around the home;
1. Draft proofing
Most doors have a gap, buy some rubber to cover them up and avoid premature use of air-conditioning or heating.
2. Insulate
Identify gaps in insulation. A gap in insulation is like a heater in summer.
3. Lighting
Swap from halogen to LED, it can cut your lighting bill by eight times.
4. Compost
It is a great way to save on sending things to landfill
5. Window coverings
Buy small blinds to roll down in summer in east/west facing homes
6. Clay mix
Cut down on watering by putting a clay mix in soil. A sprinkler uses 500 litres of water in 5 minutes. Clay will keep the earth damp.
7. Check your hot water
Get solar or instantaneous gas, storage systems waste a lot of power. Instantaneous gas has an eight-year pay back period and is “bang for buck” according to Mr Porter, but he said he recommended solar to anyone who could afford it.