Some time ago we did an energy audit on our home. At the time we were doing the Alternative Energy Technology unit at Ithaca TAFE.
Out of that the steps we took reduced our power use to about a sixth.
Things we did:
Adopt a live upstairs in the ‘winter palace’ in winter and downstairs in the ‘summer palace’ in summer
Put curtains with good heat proof backing on all windows
Grow a ‘green wall’ across the front of our house in the form of a grapevine. We trellis it along a wire and prune it carefully each winter. It makes a huge difference is very productive in grapes privacy shade and pleasant surroundings and cuts out most of the reflected heat and sunlight that would otherwise hit our home.
Insulated the ceiling
Had patios built to cover brick-paved areas next to the house
Started turning off all our computers etc when they were not in use
Got rid of a second fridge
Got rid of a very old fridge (still running well) and got a new fridge with a good energy rating
Got rid of an electric water heater and got a solar water heater (excellent)
Started monitoring the times throughout the year that the pool pump is on and adjusting it regularly
Close all the windows and curtains at sunrise and open them all at sunset.
Got a whirly-bird on the roof.
We’ve done more things since but these measures cut our power bill right down and made the house comfortable enough summer and winter that we don’t use any air-conditioning rarely use a fan and rarely use a heater.