Energy tips in households depend on what we're trying to achieve, see also http://www.cafe.gen.nz/homeenergy . For more permanent energy saving and sustainable living there are things you can do to lessen your use of electricity and make better use of renewable energy sources.
CAfE suggests the ten folllowing ideas to save money and reduce your energy footprint.
1. Install solar panels to heat your hot water.
2. Heat pumps use less power than other heaters so using these can make more efficient use of power (depending on the temperature they're set to).
3. Make better use of natural power and light by installing sky lights, or windows that face the path of the sun.
4. Install underfloor installation, and check your walls and ceiling are insulated.
5. Have all your windows double glazed or fit a double glazing alternative such as plastic or perspex.
6. Install light sensors that activate lights when people are in a room and switch them off when the room is vacant.
7. Grow a row of trees on the side of your house that faces the prevailing cold wind (being sure not to block maximum sunlight). This will help keep your house warm.
8. Undertake an audit of all your appliances and light fittings, and their energy ratings. List which can be replaced for more efficient models or options and, over time, make upgrades.
9. Review the furniture and layout of the rooms in your house with the aim of making better use of light and heating. For example; relocate the fridge and freezer away from the oven and range, convert a space to a natural drying room for washing, move work areas to nearer natural lighting sources, change heating options to more efficiently heat areas of the house, and swap the use of rooms to make better use of heating and lighting.
10. Bring in an energy adviser to create an energy plan covering fundamental opportunities to better use power. These can be from rebuilding, retrofitting, making greater use of renewable energy such as bioenergy and other forms of power such as wind, gas and storage devices. A great place to start is with Community Energy Action www.cea.co.nz 0800 242 2233