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Saving energy

How to Do a Home Energy Audit and Find What Is Costing You

Before you buy anything, find out where your power actually goes. This checklist takes an afternoon and points you to the fixes worth the most.

Checked against regulator sources, October 2026

Where the energy in a typical home goes

Shares of household energy use
Heating and cooling20% to 50% of home energy, depending on climate zone
Hot water15% to 30% of household energy
AppliancesAround 30% of home energy use
Fridges and freezersAround 10% of energy bills
Lighting5% to 10% of the electricity budget
Standby powerUp to 3% of household energy, up to $100 a year
energy.gov.au. Ranges vary with climate, house and appliances.

How to audit your home, step by step

  1. Start with your bills

    Work out your kWh per day for each bill over a year. Big seasonal jumps point to heating or cooling. See why a bill is high.

  2. Read your smart meter data

    Half-hourly data shows the overnight base load and the evening peak. A high overnight floor means always-on appliances. See reading smart meter data.

  3. Measure the big appliances

    A plug-in power meter shows what the fridge, heater or pool pump uses. See measuring appliance use.

  4. Check heating, cooling and hot water

    Note each system's type and age, thermostat settings and hours of use. Each extra degree of heating or cooling adds 5% to 10% to its energy use, according to energy.gov.au.

  5. Walk the house for leaks

    Look for draughts, gaps, bare ceilings and uncovered windows. See draught-proofing and insulation.

  6. List and rank the fixes

    Put free changes first, then cheap ones, then upgrades by payback.

Typical fixes, cheapest first

Free or cheap

Do now
  • Turn off appliances at the wall
  • Set heating to 18°C to 21°C and cooling to 24°C to 27°C
  • Move dishwasher, washing and pool pump to cheaper or solar hours
  • Seal draughts with stoppers and foam strips
  • Switch remaining bulbs to LED

Upgrades

Plan for
  • Ceiling insulation
  • Heat pump hot water
  • Efficient reverse-cycle air conditioning
  • Better window coverings or glazing
  • Rooftop solar

Price each change

The appliance running cost calculator and electricity cost calculator turn your measurements into dollars, so you can see which fix is worth most.

Common questions

Heating and cooling, at 20% to 50% of home energy depending on the climate zone, followed by hot water at 15% to 30%, according to energy.gov.au.

Yes. Your bills, smart meter data and a plug-in power meter cover most of it. A professional can add an air-leakage test.

Look at your smart meter data between midnight and 5am. Anything above a few hundred watts is worth tracing with a plug-in meter.

Sources

Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.