Switch Your Thinking

Share your feedback on energy efficiency

Complete a short Switch Your Thinking energy efficiency survey to enter the draw for the chance to win a $100 Bunnings voucher. The survey seeks insight into how energy efficiency is being considered for new homes across Western Australia, particularly homes built between 2020 and 2025. The survey closes at 5pm on Sunday 31 May.

Click here to complete the survey.

Energy Efficiency Pilot Program

Switch Your Thinking has partnered with the Western Australian Government to deliver an Energy Efficiency Pilot Program, to build energy literacy and implement energy efficiency measures within participating Western Australian Local Governments.

The Pilot Program supports residents and small to medium-sized businesses by providing access to relevant, accessible energy efficiency education such as home energy audit kits and workshops. Follow the links below for the key parts of the Energy Efficient Pilot Program you can benefit from:

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits. Available for loan for free from all City of Gosnells libraries. 

• - A thermal imaging camera to help you locate draughts around your home and gaps in insulation, for checking fridge seals, and measuring hot water temperature.
  - A plug-in energy monitor for measuring energy consumption and the running costs of appliances.
  - A basin flow measuring cup to determine the water flow rate of your taps. 
  - A thermometer for measuring the temperature of rooms, fridges and freezers.
  - A document case containing an energy audit kit instruction manual and other useful resources that can help you improve sustainability in and around your home and how to take advantage of Rewards for Residents discounts.

  Click here to view the energy audit kit in the City of Gosnells library catalogue.

'How to Use an Energy Audit Kit sessions' (online) are being held during February and March!

• Register here: 

  Thursday, 12 February from 6:30pm - 7:30pm

  Monday, 9 March from 6:30pm - 7:30pm

  These free, one hour online workshops will take you through:

  - The possible cost benefits and home comfort you can achieve by assessing your home with the kits' energy and water testing equipment.

  - Why going all-electric and utilising renewable energy leads to better environmental outcomes and cheaper utility bills.

  - Where energy is most consumed around the home.

  - How to use a thermal imaging camera and what it can help you identify.

  - How to use a plug-in energy monitor and how to interpret the readings it provides.

  - How to use a tap-flow measuring cup to identify whether you have water-wise fittings.

  - How to use an energy efficiency thermometer and reducing appliance thermostat settings. PLUS

  - Easy, cost-effective actions you can take to help reduce your energy and water consumption.

  

Upcoming Business Energy Efficiency Workshops

With the support of Energy Policy WA in the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, Switch Your Thinking are running two business-focussed sessions on energy efficiency: 

Business Energy Efficiency – Optimising Your Energy Use & Cutting Costs - Thursday, 19 February 2025 @ 6:30pm

• Join the Business Foundations team as they walk through a practical “treasure-hunt” audit of compressors, motors, HVAC, lighting and idle equipment. Discuss no-cost behavioural fixes, low-cost controls (timers, VSDs, leak repairs) and bigger CAPEX projects (high-efficiency motors, heat-recovery, insulation).
• During the session, Business Foundations will also outline typical paybacks for WA tariffs and how efficiency underpins later moves to electrification and renewables.
• This 2 hour online presentation will help business owners and operators:
  • Spot the top five energy-waste sources in light-industrial facilities.
  • Use basic metering and benchmarks to quantify savings.
  • Calculate simple payback and prioritise upgrades.
  • Link efficiency gains to Scope 1 & 2 reductions and cost competitiveness.
• REGISTER HERE

Electrification – Powering Business Operations with Clean Electricity - Thursday, 12 March @ 6:30pm

• During this 2-hour session presented by Business Foundations, business owners and operators will examine technology swaps such as :
  - Gas boilers ➜ electric heat-pumps;
  - Diesel forklifts ➜ battery units;
  - ICE fleet vehicles ➜ EVs;
  - LPG process heat ➜electric infrared/induction.

  The session will also cover load-profile impacts, switchboard capacity checks and WA’s fast-growing EV-charging backbone and
  rooftop-solar uptake.

  The Business Foundations team will outline where electrification is technically and financially viable, infrastructure upgrades (cabling, demand management, on-site storage), lifetime cost and maintenance savings of electric options, and see how pairing electrification with renewables slashes Scope 1 emissions.

• REGISTER HERE

Prizes for your feedback!

T&Cs apply – visit our website for more information.

• In home energy audits
  In-home energy audits will be provided as prizes and only people who attend one of the Pilot Program’s workshops and/or borrow an energy audit AND fill out a survey will be eligible to go into the draw to win. The home energy audits will be conducted by an accredited assessor (metropolitan Perth only).
• Energy efficient appliances
  There are 2 energy efficient appliances to be won. Winners will be able to select an energy efficient appliance such as a new fridge, washing machine or dishwasher. To be in the running, simply participate in a community or business follow-up session which will be held online in November 2025.
• Business energy audit
  Small and medium-sized businesses will have the chance to win an energy audit conducted by an accredited assessor. Due to the complex and varied nature of businesses, the exact number of audits available to win will not be announced till later in the year. To enter the competition, simply fill out the feedback survey after attending the business workshops or carbon accounting training sessions. 

Please contact the Energy Efficiency Pilot Program Team for any further information and resources. 

Email: energy@switchyourthinking.com

Phone: 0409 497 125

Visit https://switchyourthinking.com/energy/ to learn more.

Switch Your Thinking’s Energy Efficiency Pilot Program is supported by Energy Policy WA in the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification.

Switch Your Thinking engages our community to take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through workshops, projects and incentives.

• Access discounts for various products and services such as solar panels and worm farms through the Rewards for Residents program.
• Access discounts for various products and services such as energy audits and insulation through the Rewards for Business program.
• Get your business recognised for your efforts to reduce waste, energy/water use or emissions through the Switched On Business Awards.
• To keep up to date on sustainability news, new opportunities and success stories, subscribe to our monthly Community of Business e-newsletters.
• Energy Bills too high? Subscribe to our monthly Energy Smart SMS systems which gives you monthly tips to help you reduce energy use in your home.

Switch Your Thinking is a local government sustainability initiative founded by the City of Gosnells, City of Armadale and the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale as the South-east Regional Energy Group (SEREG). Switch Your Thinking works together with local governments to develop partnerships with business, industry and residents to encourage energy efficient, water-wise and waste reducing behaviour.