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Consumption of energy by households accounted for 12% of total energy consumption in Australia during 2008–09. Space heating and water heating dominated household energy use, contributing around 61% of residential energy consumption (ABARE–BRS, 2010).
In 2011, 37% of households used electricity as their main source of energy for space heating, followed by gas (32% of households) and wood (10%) (graph 2.6). While wood and gas decreased slightly as the main source of energy between 2005 and 2011, use of electricity increased (from 32% to 37%).
Electricity was the most common source of energy for heating water (graph 2.7). This increased from 46% of households in 2008 to 52% in 2011. Mains gas remained fairly steady at 36% (compared to 35% in 2008) and was the next most common. The use of solar energy for heating water, while still small, has increased steadily since 2005, from 4% of households to 9% of households in 2011.
The proportion of Australian households with insulation increased from 61% in 2005 to 69% in 2011 (graph 2.8). In the Australian Capital Territory, 81% of households had insulation in 2011 compared with 44% of households in the Northern Territory. The largest increases were in Queensland (from 47% of households in 2008 to 62% in 2011) and New South Wales (from 53% in 2008 to 63% in 2011).
Coolers are contributing more to household energy use and costs (ABARE–BRS, 2010). Use of coolers in Australian dwellings has increased steadily since 2005 (graph 2.9). In 2011, 73% of dwellings in Australia had coolers, up from 66% in 2008 and 59% in 2005. Both Tasmania and the ACT have shown relatively large increases in the use of coolers over this period (19% in 2005 to 44% in 2011 for Tasmania, and 48% to 70% for the ACT).
Increasing energy prices provide households with an incentive to conserve energy, which often takes the form of purchasing more energy efficient appliances. In Australia, mandatory energy efficiency labelling has been implemented for a variety of electrical appliances including washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioners. Energy star rating was a factor considered by over half of households purchasing refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes dryers in the year ending March 2011. In contrast, only one-third of households purchasing a heater or an air conditioner considered energy star ratings (graph 2.10).
Statistics contained in the Year Book are the most recent available at the time of preparation. In many cases, the ABS website and the websites of other organisations provide access to more recent data. Each Year Book table or graph and the bibliography at the end of each chapter provides hyperlinks to the most up to date data release where available.
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This page first published 24 May 2012, last updated 11 November 2015
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HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USE AND CONSERVATION
Consumption of energy by households accounted for 12% of total energy consumption in Australia during 2008–09. Space heating and water heating dominated household energy use, contributing around 61% of residential energy consumption (ABARE–BRS, 2010).
In 2011, 37% of households used electricity as their main source of energy for space heating, followed by gas (32% of households) and wood (10%) (graph 2.6). While wood and gas decreased slightly as the main source of energy between 2005 and 2011, use of electricity increased (from 32% to 37%).
Electricity was the most common source of energy for heating water (graph 2.7). This increased from 46% of households in 2008 to 52% in 2011. Mains gas remained fairly steady at 36% (compared to 35% in 2008) and was the next most common. The use of solar energy for heating water, while still small, has increased steadily since 2005, from 4% of households to 9% of households in 2011.
The proportion of Australian households with insulation increased from 61% in 2005 to 69% in 2011 (graph 2.8). In the Australian Capital Territory, 81% of households had insulation in 2011 compared with 44% of households in the Northern Territory. The largest increases were in Queensland (from 47% of households in 2008 to 62% in 2011) and New South Wales (from 53% in 2008 to 63% in 2011).
Coolers are contributing more to household energy use and costs (ABARE–BRS, 2010). Use of coolers in Australian dwellings has increased steadily since 2005 (graph 2.9). In 2011, 73% of dwellings in Australia had coolers, up from 66% in 2008 and 59% in 2005. Both Tasmania and the ACT have shown relatively large increases in the use of coolers over this period (19% in 2005 to 44% in 2011 for Tasmania, and 48% to 70% for the ACT).
Increasing energy prices provide households with an incentive to conserve energy, which often takes the form of purchasing more energy efficient appliances. In Australia, mandatory energy efficiency labelling has been implemented for a variety of electrical appliances including washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioners. Energy star rating was a factor considered by over half of households purchasing refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes dryers in the year ending March 2011. In contrast, only one-third of households purchasing a heater or an air conditioner considered energy star ratings (graph 2.10).
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