Discover a greener lifestyle. Borrow a Home Energy Efficiency Kit or try our Induction Cooktop. They can help you make impactful changes towards a sustainable future.
Sustainable Living
Home Energy Efficiency Kit
Understanding your energy consumption is the first step towards setting up systems at home that can help you save money and save resources. The home energy efficiency kit is designed to inform and empower you to improve the efficiency of your home which can help
- Make your home more comfortable
- Save money on your electricity bill
- Reduce carbon emissions
What’s in the kit?
The kit comes in a handy hard case which is easy to transport home and will protect the equipment. The kit include the following items:
Power-mate Lite
The Power-mate Lite is a simple to use tool that will tell you how much electricity an appliance is using, and if set up correctly, will also tell you how much it costs you to run the appliance. It is a simple tool to use, and an instruction manual is provided in the kit. There are several easy-to-follow videos on the internet that you can refer to if you prefer a step-by-step visual guide (search the internet for “power-mate lite”).
Room thermometer
A room thermometer is helpful for maintaining a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. It helps to monitor and therefore regulate room temperature, ensuring optimal comfort, energy efficiency, and preventing issues. By keeping your home at the right temperature, you can save on your energy costs.
Protech thermal camera
A thermal camera will show the surface temperature and change in temperature in an area. You can use this to identify any areas of your house that are not thermally sealed, for example gaps in window or door frames where draughts can enter or indoor cooling/heating is escaping. Try pointing it at the door of your fridge to see if it is sealing correctly and maintaining efficient cooling.
Water flow measuring cup
Water is a precious resource, and easy to conserve if you know the flow rates of your appliances (dishwashers and washing machines) and the taps in your house. The water flow measuring cup will identify how many litres per minute your taps are using. Inefficient taps have a flow rate of between 15 and 22 litres per minute and efficient taps use less than 9 litres per minute. Switching to more efficient taps can save water and money on your bills (or reduce stress during dry periods if you live off tank water).
Induction Cooktop
One of the best ways to create a more efficient household and reduce your reliance on fossil fuel energy sources is to switch to induction cooktops. Here’s an opportunity to try before you buy, by borrowing an induction cooktop from the library. There’s one available at Noosaville and one available at Cooroy for you to take home and see how it works for you.
The major advantages of induction cooking vs. traditional electric cooking units is the ability to control temperature and the speed at which the unit heats and cools. Both are advantages for people who love to cook and require a high level of control over heating temperatures.
The induction cooktop comes in an easy to transport hard case and includes the cooktop, a power lead and a test magnet. The magnet is included so that you can test your pots and pans to see if they are compatible with the induction cooktop. Please note that pots and pans must have a magnet bottom to be compatible.
WARNING: Westinghouse advises that users with pacemakers need to stay at least 90cm from the cooktop (about arms length).
We recommend you watch this short and informative video on how to use the cooktop before you begin:
Read more here.
Reserve the cooktop