The parents have taken part in a trial to test different ways of encouraging energy efficiency at home. Their help is part of the bigger Energy Smart Home Rating tool pilot, currently being trialled by the NSW Government’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority in partnership with Penrith City and Ku-ring-gai Councils.

The parents were divided into groups and asked to trial three different ways of improving efficiency at home. One group received an in-home audit from an accredited energy assessor, one group tested their home’s energy rating on-line and a third group received a personal briefing from an energy assessor.

Each of the three groups learned their home’s energy star rating and received tips on how to improve energy efficiency and save on their bills. A follow-up survey in six months will find which of the methods were most successful in getting participants’ energy bills down.

Penrith City Mayor David Bradbury said the playgroup parents provided a good test sample for Penrith City because they all have children under five, spend quite a lot of time in the home and are generally keen to find ways to cut back on their household expenses.

“The double benefit with energy efficiency is that it saves you money on your bills and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Councillor Bradbury said.

“The Energy Smart Home Rating tool is a new way of understanding energy and the home and the playgroup parents’ experience will provide us with valuable feedback.

“The rating tool works by comparing your home’s energy use to the NSW average and giving it a rating of between one and five stars. The higher the rating, the more economical it is to run that home.”

Councillor Bradbury said the average home in NSW has a 2.5 Star rating and is responsible for emitting about eight tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. Each star improvement on your home saves about $350 a year on your bills and one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Home Rating tool is currently only available for residents of Penrith City and Ku-ring-gai council areas, with the pilot running from the end of March until June 11, 2004. During that time, Penrith City residents can book an in-home audit to get an official energy rating for their home and a personal action plan to save energy. The tool can also be trialled on-line at www.energysmarthome.com.au. For more information, or to book an audit, contact the Energy Smart Information Centre on 1300 138 638.

Penrith City Council has adopted a target to reduce Penrith City’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2010. The City currently produces 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas a year, a figure that will rise to 3.3 million tonnes by 2010 if no action is taken to reduce them. Residential emissions account for 17.7 per cent of the City total.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Penrith City Mayor David Bradbury will joining the Bilbies Monday Playgroup for Morning Tea on Monday, May 24, to thank them for their participation, at 11am at Kingswood Neighbourhood Centre, Bringelly Road, Kingswood.

For more information Contact Carl Spears, Media Liaison Officer, on 4732 7632

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