Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

ENERGY USE IN NSW HOMES

Findings from the New South Wales State Supplementary Survey, Domestic Water and Energy Use, New South Wales, Oct 2006 (cat. no. 4621.1) were released on 10 May 2007. The publication presents information on selected water and energy consuming appliances including types of heating and cooling used in the household, energy source for hot water systems, domestic indoor water use, clothes drying habits and swimming pool ownership and maintenance.


Selected findings include:

• An estimated 27% of households used reverse cycle air conditioning as the main type of heating, 25% used other types of electric heating and 23% used gas heating.
  
• Wood heating was used by 11% of households as the main type of heating, with the greater proportion of those being outside Sydney in the Balance of NSW.
  
• Over 30% of households used a fan as their main type of home cooling, 21% used split system air-conditioning, 17% used portable or set in the wall air-conditioners, and 12% of households used ducted air-conditioning.
  
• The most common energy type for hot water systems in households was off-peak electricity (44% of households), 26% used mains gas and only 3% used solar energy.
  
• The majority (57%) of households have only one shower facility, and an estimated 9% of households had 3 or more showers.
  
• Approximately 79% of households used top loading washing machines, 2% used twin tub machines, and water efficient front loaders were used by 14% of households.
  
• Cold water is used for 71% of washing machine loads done by NSW households. Warm water accounts for 17% of washing loads, while about 2% of washing loads are done in hot water.
  
• An estimated 29% of households with an electric clothes dryer used it once per week, 37% used it less than once per month and 14% never used it.
  
• 78% of households used a private outdoor clothes drying line and 64% had access to a clothes airer.
  
• 14% of households had a swimming pool and/or a spa.

Data is disaggregated by Sydney and Balance of NSW, number of bedrooms in the household and type of dwelling. Similar information is available for South Australia and Western Australia in the publications Domestic Use of Water and Energy, South Australia, Oct 2004 (cat. no. 4618.4) and Domestic Use of Water and Energy, Western Australia, Oct 2006 (cat. no. 4652.5).

For further information contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070, email client.services@abs.gov.au.