Want to help the environment and your hip pocket?

Saving the world is something we're all committed to these days. But it really doesn't have to take a huge commitment when incorporating simple off the grid elements into your home that can lower your environmental footprint and save on your bills in the long term.

We've spoken to three Australians who are saving some serious money with their environmentally friendly homes.

Solar savings

When the sun gives us 'free' energy, it's little wonder that solar panels are so popular to install on your roof. Photovoltaic cells harness the sun's energy and then convert it into power that charges a bank of batteries that you can run your household's electricity off.

Richard Greaves, who runs his own fabrication workshop, converted his house to a 4.1kW solar set-up three years ago.

'After the general rebates my system cost me just over $8,000. However, my 4.1kW system is extensive,' he tells us. 'A mate of mine fitted a smaller 2.0kW system to his place and it cost him around $4,500. I went for the bigger system as I wanted it to be able to handle 100 per cent of my power needs, which it does comfortably.

At current electricity prices I'm on track to recoup my costs over the next 12 months, after which I'll be saving on my utility bills – roughly $3,000 per year – which I'm pretty excited about. For me the exercise was totally worth it.'

With generous rebate incentive available, you can offset the upfront costs of buying and installing solar panels. In the long-term, you will be living off the energy of the Aussie sun with no bills to pay.

Down the gurgler

Every time you flush your toilet you're using valuable water and money. A huge proportion of Australia's household water consumption is consumed by just flushing toilets. Mental health specialist and self-confessed environmental tragic Anne Stone realised she was spending upwards of $650 per year on water bills, so she decided to see if she could live a bit more eco-friendly while saving some money.

'I invested around $7,000 five years ago into a rainwater collection system and a solar-powered composting toilet in my house,' Anne says. 'While the initial cost was high, the ongoing costs are virtually nothing, and it will have paid for itself after another few years.'

'I can appreciate it's not for everyone, but I think the advantages for me are worth it. My garden has amazing soil nutrients and grows fantastic vegetables as a result – and the rainwater tank has reduced my quarterly water bill to $0! I also use the grey water from my washing machine to water my garden – again, it takes a little extra effort, but sustainable living is easier than a lot of people think.'

Apartment aquaponics

Setting up an aquaponics system doesn't mean you need a lot of space. Just look at Tim Nguyen, who has devised a compact aquaponics set-up in his small apartment in Randwick, Sydney.

'I had a balcony in my apartment that I wasn't using,' Tim explains. 'It's four metres by two and on the ground floor, so I got verbal permission from the landlord to set up an aquaponics system there. It provides me with fish and vegetables year round.

'I set it up by having a friend cut two 44-gallon drums in half lengthways, removing the tops and then welding them back together. This forms a trough, which I use as a grow-bed. It rests on top of a couple of cheap wooden supports, and an 800-litre fish tank – currently stocked with trout – sits underneath.'

Water is pumped up from the tank to the grow-bed, which is partially filled with gravel and planted with various vegetables, depending on the time of year. The water trickles down through the gravel, past the roots of the vegetables before draining back into the fish tank.

The vegetables absorb the nutrients from the water, clean the water for the fish at the same time and also convert the fish-waste ammonia into plant-friendly nitrates.

'The recirculation properties of the system mean I use about 10 per cent of the water that traditional vegetable growers would,' says Tim. 'It cost me roughly $350, most of which was used in buying the fish tank second hand. I got the drums for free and the rest was obtained fairly cheaply from my local hardware store.'

'It costs about the same to run as a couple of light globes, which I think is well worth it considering the system has yielded about 25kg of fish and 150kg of veggies in the last six months alone.'

Here's a helpful savings tip

Thinking about how to reach your savings goals? With Suncorp Bank's Everyday Accounts, you can open up to 9 sub-accounts to help you plan and save. Plus, there are no monthly account keeping fees and no minimum deposit, so it's easy to get started. You can open an account online in minutes.

Discover our Everyday Accounts

Published 18 September 2022

^^Discounted rate is only available for new Personal/Owner Occupied or Investment loans taken out as part of the Suncorp Bank Green Upgrades Equity Home Loan Offer. Existing lending ≥$150,000 and new equity lending between $10,000-$25,000 and borrowings ≤80% of the security property value (LVR) inclusive of lenders mortgage insurance (if applicable), with Principal and Interest repayments. The discounted rate (currently 5.82% p.a) is calculated by subtracting a discount of 2.83% from the Standard Back to Basics Variable Rate (currently 8.65% p.a.) for Owner Occupied Loans, or by subtracting a discount of 3.25% from the Standard Back to Basics Variable Rate (currently 9.07% p.a.) for Investment Loans. Rates and discounts are subject to change and may be varied if the loan purpose or repayment type is changed. Pre-approvals excluded. The discounted rate is available on eligible loans applied for from 17 November 2023 until 28 February 2025 unless withdrawn earlier.