Energy Efficiency Council - Efficiency Providers | Energy Users | Australia

Putting Energy Efficiency to work at home

ANZ and the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) released a new report on 28 May 2025 which details the practical steps Australians can take to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and the climate and financial benefits of making our households more sustainable.

The report, Putting energy efficiency to work at home, marks the third and final instalment of ANZ and the EEC’s Forgotten Fuel series – a trio of reports exploring the ways businesses and households can use energy efficiency as a tool to supercharge emissions reduction, save money, and improve health and wellbeing.

The report outlines immediate and longer-term actions Australian renters and homeowners can take to improve their energy efficiency and save on costs at home. It emphasises the often ‘forgotten’ switches that can significantly reduce carbon emissions and help lower the cost of household energy bills.

ANZ Group Executive Australia Retail, Maile Carnegie said: “We’re hopeful our final Forgotten Fuels report will empower Australians to make simple changes that contribute to a big difference. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, there’s no action too small in the path to cost reduction and improved comfort in your home.

“From everyday choices such as using appliances during off-peak times to larger switches such as investing in heat pumps, all Australians have the opportunity to improve their energy efficiency and save on household bills,” Ms Carnegie said.

Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel said “Energy is a significant outgoing for many households, but the good news is there are plenty of things families can do to drive down their bills.

“The trick is knowing what your options are. This partnership between the Energy Efficiency Council and ANZ is putting that information in the hands of more Australian families, just when they need it,” Mr Menzel said.

Putting energy efficiency to work at home recommends pragmatic solutions and everyday actions, including:

Thermal efficiency: Insulation can reduce the cost of heating and cooling by 45%. Sealing gaps in walls, floorboards or around doors is a simple step to significantly improve comfort and keep energy and costs lower in the home.

Behaviour changes: Adopting simple daily habits such as turning air conditioners to fan mode and using washing machines and dishwashers when rooftop solar is active, or when being charged off-peak tariffs can lead to significant energy cost reductions.

Smart controls: Smart devices optimise behaviour changes by enabling automation and remote control. For example, smart appliances can be turned on, and smart air conditioners can pre-heat and -cool homes at times when electricity is cheapest, including when people aren’t at home.

The report is available now.

Putting Energy Efficiency to work for business

With more than two million small businesses in Australia, contributing almost a third of total GDP, there is a significant opportunity for SMEs to reduce their energy use and advance Australia’s net zero emissions goal. 

On Thursday 16 May 2024, ANZ and the EEC released Putting energy efficiency to work for business, a new report in the 'forgotten fuel' series that highlights the significant contribution energy efficiency and electrification can make to creating energy savings and emissions reductions for Australian businesses.

The first report in the series, Putting energy efficiency to work, was published in May 2023, focussing on the wider Australian economy, and the contribution of demand-side measures to decarbonising and cutting bills across the country. 

This latest report includes case studies from ANZ customers to illustrate the practical steps real Australians are taking to use energy efficiency measures in their business practices, and the positive impacts those measures have created.

The report is available now.

Putting energy efficiency to work 

On Thursday 25 May 2023, ANZ and the EEC released Putting energy efficiency to work, a new report highlighting to everyday Australians the significant contribution of energy efficiency and electrification to cutting energy bills and decarbonising the Australian economy.

You can read the report online now, download the PDF to read later, or listen to ANZ Institutional's On Air 'energy, efficiency & the bottom line' podcast episode with Tsen Wong, Head of Energy Transition at ANZ and the EEC's Head of Projects, Holly Taylor.

Released at the National Energy Efficiency Conference in Sydney, the report contains newly commissioned independent modelling from Northmore Gordon that demonstrates the role that energy efficiency could and should play in achieving Australia's emissions reductions goals.

On June 13, Holly hosted a webinar with Tsen from ANZ, Craig Morgan and Huon Seymour from Northmore Gordon, and the EEC's very own Alex St John, where they unpacked the modelling behind the recent report. Watch the webinar recording here and access the slides here.

You can access the Northmore Gordon Energy efficiency scenario modelling research here.

Putting energy efficiency to work is the first report in ANZ and the EEC’s Forgotten Fuel series. The second and third reports will have a deeper focus on the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency in businesses and households.

Read Putting energy efficiency to work now.