Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Tuesday, 13 August, 2024. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Introducing the Home Energy Efficiency Toolkit

In Summary

Council, in partnership with GV Libraries, introduces the Home Energy Efficiency Toolkit to help residents identify energy and water consumption issues at home.
The toolkits, available for borrowing from Shepparton, Mooroopna, and Tatura Libraries from 9 August 2024, include devices like a thermal camera, energy meter and more, to assist in reducing household energy costs and emissions.
Each toolkit comes with easy-to-read instructions and observation sheets, enabling users to measure and document areas for improvement in their home's energy and water use.
Council encourages residents to borrow the toolkits to identify weak spots in insulation, draughts and high-energy-consuming appliances, providing opportunities to save money and improve home efficiency.

Council has teamed up with GV Libraries to provide the Home Energy Efficiency Toolkits to the community for borrowing. From Friday 9 August 2024, residents can borrow the toolkits available at Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura Libraries.

Each device included in the toolkit provides important data which can help community members identify weak spots and areas for improvement in their energy and water use at home, providing opportunities to save money and reduce household greenhouse gas emissions.

The kits contains the following tools:

Energy Saving thermometer
Power Mate Lite Energy Meter
Lux Meter/Light Level Meter
Water flow measuring cup
Thermal Camera
Instruction guide

The thermal camera available in the toolkit is a great tool to identify weak points in your house such as gaps in insulation, draughts and even finding out if there’s animals in the roof/walls. All home electrical appliances can easily be plugged into the Power Mate Lite Energy Meter to measure the power they use, helping users identify high-energy-consuming appliances, and guiding usage changes or decisions for upgrading.

The kit comes with easy to read instructions on how to use each tool and how to take measurements. Along with toolkits, borrowers can also grab observation sheets from the libraries to document their findings.

Greater Shepparton City Council’s Team Leader Sustainability and Environment, Paul Dainton, encouraged residents to borrow the toolkit and take action.

“Understanding energy and water usage in your home can be challenging, as your bills don’t show which appliances are using the most energy. Borrowing the home energy efficiency toolkit is a great opportunity to take advantage of these specialised tools to identify areas of improvement at home and where you might be able to save some money.”

“The thermal camera is a simple to use, but effective tool for understanding gaps and draughts in your home, where you can then often simply and cheaply fill gaps, cover unused vents or use draught stoppers.” he said.

Community members can borrow the kits at the following Goulburn Valley Libraries: