Data assumptions

Assumptions made about average energy consumption and potential savings

According to "Energy use in the Australian residential sector 1986 – 2020" conducted by the Australian Government in 2008, total New South Wales residential energy use is 104.7 PJ (Petajoules).

So, the average total annual energy (gas, wood and electricity) use per NSW household is 11 MWh, which equates to eight tonnes of CO2 (7.3 MWh and 7.7 tonnes from electricity) or 160,000 black balloons.

The black balloon numbers for individual energy efficiency actions and savings have been calculated using NABERS Energy Explorer and are based on a typical three person household in Western Sydney that has not implemented any power savings actions.

Potential money savings are based on the household electricity price as at July 2012.

Our household data model

Our typical three person household:

  • Has a "typical" size and location: is a three person detached house located in Western Sydney
  • Uses 11MWh of electricity each year
  • Owns a typical number of appliances but none of them are energy efficient options:
  • Uses electric storage off-peak hot water and an inefficient showerhead
  • Has one large and one small reverse cycle split system air-conditioner for heating and cooling
  • Has four large domestic appliances (fridge/freezer, dishwasher, clothes washer, clothes dryer)
  • Has a second fridge
  • Has incandescent lights
  • Has two TVs (large LCD and older, smaller CRT), a set top box, a DVD player, an old VCR and a games console
  • Has two computers (desktop + notebook), a modem, multi-function device (printer/scanner) and three other computer related devices (sound etc)
  • Does not have a pool or spa

Has inefficient behaviour:

  • Heating / cooling: heats to "warm" 23°C in winter and cools to "cool" 20°C in summer
  • Has no draught proofing, no curtains and does not close off the space being heated and cooled
  • Uses heating and cooling quite often (more than just very hot days for cooling and very cold days for heating)
  • Has a 2.5 star top-loading washing machine connected to hot water used daily
  • Uses the electric clothes dryer after each wash
  • Rarely switches off lights that are not in use
  • Uses remotes to turn off TVs, entertainment equipment and computers
  • Leaves most devices on at the power point

Energy use within an average NSW home

The breakdown of energy use for an average three-person household in Sydney is shown below:

Energy usage within a typical NSW household - Pie chart


* NABERS analysis of the IPART paper. (IPART Research Paper 29; November 2007: Residential energy and water use in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Illawarra; Results from the 2006 household survey; Electricity, Gas and Water).