5 easy ways to start your journey to renewable energy

Published On: February 15th, 2022|4 min read|

From carbon neutral broadband and mobile phone plans to all-electric vehicles and green energy providers, Australian and New Zealand homeowners are regularly pulled in multiple directions when it comes to doing the right ‘renewable energy’ thing.

At Redback, we get that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so here are 5 easy ways to start the switch to renewable energy.

1. Invest in a Smart Meter

If you don’t know how you’re using electricity in your own home, then it’s a lot harder to do something about it, and even harder to make it ‘green’. If you own your own home, then using a smart meter is a must. Not only does it digitally measure the energy your home uses, but more importantly, it measures when and how much electricity is used at in your house.

This not only allows you to see when your usage is on the higher side, but some smart meter models even pinpoint which appliance is the power hog. Unplugging idle or power hungry devices when not in use can not only save you money, but will also help you on your ‘green’ journey.

Meterus smart meter

An example of a Smart Meter

2. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

In Australia we’re used to hot summers and (relatively) mild winters. But according to the Australian Energy Foundation, “we actually feel the winter cold more than Americans and Europeans” in our homes due to inadequate home insulation, losing up to 35% of household heat in winter and allowing up to 35% more heat in summer.

Fortunately, upgrading the insulation of your home is easier and less expensive than most people think. In the average home, insulation costs are recouped in the form of 40-50% lower heating and cooling bills within 5-6 years. This is a fantastic way to become a little more self-sustainable, reducing your reliance on electricity providers.

3. Cut back if you can

Cutting back on your electricity consumption is an important step in making your home eco-friendlier. There are plenty of ways you can do this that don’t hinder your existing way of living.

Laundry

Save electricity by running your machine on a cold-water cycle and ensuring it is a full load. Drying clothes on a clothes rack, or in the beautiful Aussie sun can also save power. If you need to use the dryer, make sure you’ve cleaned the lint and ensure the clothes are well wrung before drying.

Bathroom

By setting the hot water temperature to 50 degrees Celsius, you can save money on water heating. Installing water-saving showerheads in your home will reduce the amount of hot water and energy used (look for higher WELS rated appliances). Shorten showers to less than five minutes.

Kitchen

Make sure your fridge is set to 4 to 5°C and your freezer is set to -15 to -18°C, ideally away from direct sunlight or near to the oven. Keep a 5cm gap around all sides for ventilation.
Dishwashers use far less water than hand washing, especially when run with a full load, so make sure you fill it nice and full and use the ‘eco’ setting on your machine. Remember, most dishwashers don’t need you to rinse them under the tap first – saving more energy.

Living Room

Devices in standby mode still draw electrical current, so you can save power by turning them off at the wall. Investing in a power board allows you to turn off all items at the same time, which is helpful for entertainment units or offices.
Modern energy-saving globes are far more efficient than incandescent or halogen bulbs, so although the initial outlay may be a little more expensive, you can save in the long run. And this goes without saying – turn off the lights in any rooms not being used!

4. Switch to a Greener Provider

Want to source your electricity from a greener, eco-friendlier supplier? Energy providers across Australia vary in their green advocacy, but Greenpeace annually compares the top providers’ practices in their ‘The Green Energy Guide’.

The companies listed at the top of this guide are making significant progress towards incorporating more renewable energy into Australia’s electricity grid. And several of them have come up with innovative ways to give customers and communities more influence over their electricity generation.

Winner of the pack this year are Enova Energy, who source almost all of their energy from distributed solar panels from their customers, and from Diamond Energy, a renewable electricity generator and retailer.

5. Add a Redback Solar Storage Solution

Investing in your home by installing solar panels and solar batteries will allow you to live your most eco-friendly, sustainable life, allowing you to create and store your own electricity. With your own renewable energy source ready to go, you’ll reduce your reliance on the electricity grid.

In addition to solar panels, installing a Redback Smart battery that stores the sun’s energy during the day for use at night, avoids the need to buy from the grid after the sunsets. This has the added benefit of relieving grid stress by balancing energy supply and demand.

With our brand new Smart Inverter designed for Australian conditions, and battery options for homes with existing solar, homes thinking about installing solar, and houses with three-phase power, Redback is your proud Australian provider of solar battery storage solutions.