There was an interesting segment on one of Australia’s home and gardening shows, which interviewed a homeowner who decided to show the television host around his property. The home wasn’t like your typical Australian home. It actually consumed less energy than it produced and was selling the surplus energy back to the energy company.

The thought of having a positive cash-flow property is a dream for many Australians. Here are a few ways this property owner was able to achieve this.

The home is powered by solar energy.

The property should be powered by solar energy, which will connect to the energy grid. This will supply heating for the hot water and provide power for the entire property.

The lighting within the property is powered by low-voltage LED lights.

LED lights are the most eco-friendly and cost efficient bulbs that you can install in your property. They consume up to 90% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and are more energy-efficient than halogen light bulbs.

The home’s design maximised heat retention.

It’s important that the property is designed in a way to maximise heat retention during the cooler periods of the year. The property should be constructed with insulation in the walls and roof to prevent any heat from escaping. Additionally, the property shouldn’t have any air leakages.

The property can also make use of double glazed windows, depending on the climate conditions of the properties location.

Additionally, heat ventilation recovery can also be installed to let fresh air into the home, without losing any heat.

As more heat is retained within the property, there will be a lower dependence on electrical heating.

Smart electronics are used throughout the property.

Electrical items that are used throughout the home should use a low voltage and also have a smart function that allows them to go into a low-power mode or to switch off when they aren’t in use. Some items that can be considered include:

  • Smart printers
  • LED televisions
  • Smart refrigerators
  • Smart heating

The property’s orientation maximises heat absorption in the winter and cooling in the summer.

The property needs to be built in a way so that heat from the sun during the winter is absorbed into the property. So in Australia, all of the living areas within the property would be facing north.

During the summer months, the sun should follow a slightly different path. The property’s design should have shaded features to reduce the temperature in the property during the warmer months of the year. This might include the use of blinds and awnings to keep out the sun. This can also be complimented by an energy efficient reverse cycle air conditioner.

Making these improvements to your home can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on your energy bill every year. The saved money could allow you to have an extra holiday every year. Take a look around your property to see where you can make improvements that will save you money over the long-term.