MEDIA RELEASE
24 October 2011	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra Time)	129/2011

Laptops have taken over as the household's computer of choice and top loading washing machines are going out with the rinse water, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Six in ten (61%) households owned at least one laptop computer in 2011, up from 38% in 2008, while those with desktops have dropped from 60% to 55%.

Front loaders are becoming more common with the proportion of households owning one more than doubling in six years (13% in 2005 compared to 31% in 2011). Over the same period those with top loaders decreased from 83% to 68%.

Homes with insulation have also increased with over two thirds (69%) having some form of insulation, an eight percentage point increase since 2008. The states showing the largest increase were Queensland and New South Wales (15 and 10 percentage points respectively). Over one in ten households (11%) installed insulation because of a rebate offered.

When purchasing selected electrical appliances in the last year, around half of all households considered energy star ratings.

Further information about household energy use and conservation inside the dwelling and outdoors, can be found in Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation (cat. no. 4602.0.55.001).

Media note:

• When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source