Energy Efficiency
Smart Energy Hub
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Smart Energy Hub: A centralised system that monitors, manages, and automates energy flows from solar panels, batteries, EV chargers, and appliances. Offers real-time control and data analytics through mobile apps or dashboards.
Battery-Ready System
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Battery-Ready System: A solar setup designed for easy battery integration at a later date. Includes hybrid inverters, spare circuits, and sufficient switchboard space. Often chosen by homeowners planning staged upgrades.
Net Zero Home
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Net Zero Home: A home that produces as much energy as it consumes, typically using solar, batteries, and efficient appliances. Electricians play a key role in system design, installation, and compliance testing.
Energy Audit
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Energy Audit: A professional assessment of a building’s energy use. Identifies inefficiencies, potential savings, and recommends upgrades such as better lighting, insulation, or smart metering systems.
Off-Peak Tariff
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Off-Peak Tariff: A reduced electricity rate available during low-demand times, typically overnight. Ideal for running water heaters, pool pumps, or EV chargers when electricity is cheapest.
Load Management
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Load Management: Controlling when and how electricity is used across systems to avoid peak usage or strain on infrastructure. Includes techniques like staggering HVAC, off-peak charging, or battery discharge scheduling.
Consumption Monitor
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Consumption Monitor: A device or system that allows users to track energy use in real-time. Helps identify energy-hungry appliances and develop more efficient usage habits. Available as smart apps or hardware units.
Smart Meter
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Smart Meter: A digital meter that records energy usage in real-time and sends data to the electricity retailer. Enables time-of-use tariffs and detailed consumption monitoring. Replaces old-style analogue meters in most Australian homes.
Timed Lighting
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Timed Lighting: A setup where lights are programmed to switch on or off at specific times. Used in both homes and businesses for energy savings and security. Can be mechanical or digital timers.
Night Sensor
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Night Sensor: A sensor that activates lighting only when it’s dark. Commonly used for outdoor lights, garden lighting, or pathway illumination. Often combined with motion sensors for smart control.
Daylight Sensor
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Daylight Sensor: A sensor that measures ambient light levels and turns lights on or off automatically. Used in outdoor lighting, offices, and schools to reduce unnecessary usage during daylight hours.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Energy Efficient Lighting: LED and CFL lighting that consumes significantly less energy than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. Offers longer lifespan, lower heat output, and reduced energy bills.
Motion Sensor Switch
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Motion Sensor Switch: An automated switch that activates lights or appliances when movement is detected. Common in bathrooms, stairwells, or outdoor areas for energy efficiency and safety.
Passive Design
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Passive Design: Architectural features that reduce the need for artificial heating or cooling — such as orientation, shading, insulation, and ventilation. Electricians may work alongside builders to integrate lighting and energy systems that complement passive design principles.
Power Factor Correction
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Power Factor Correction: The use of capacitors or filters to improve the efficiency of electrical systems by reducing reactive power. Essential in commercial and industrial setups to lower demand charges and improve grid stability.
Time-of-Use Tariff
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Time-of-Use Tariff: A pricing model where electricity costs vary depending on when it’s used — peak, shoulder, and off-peak times. Encourages consumers to shift usage to cheaper periods to save on bills.
Load Profile
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Load Profile: A graph or data set that shows how electrical demand varies throughout the day. Helps in designing energy-efficient systems and choosing the right tariff or battery storage solution.
Peak Demand
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Peak Demand: The highest level of electricity usage during a specific time period, often late afternoon or early evening. Energy providers use this to determine infrastructure needs and billing structures.
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): A unit of energy used to measure electricity consumption. One kWh is equal to 1,000 watts used for one hour. It’s how power companies bill usage and how appliances are measured for running costs.
Energy Rating Label
Last Updated: April 25, 2025Energy Rating Label: A mandatory label in Australia showing how energy-efficient an appliance is. Rated using a star system (1–6 stars typically, up to 10 for super-efficient). Helps consumers compare running costs and efficiency at a glance.