Band 8+: The two pie charts below show how an average household in Australia used energy for different purposes in 1995 and 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The pie charts illustrate the proportions of household in Australia used energy for five distinct purposes (heating, water heating, refrigeration, lighting, and other appliances) in 1995 and 2015.

Overall, heating accounted for the largest proportions in both years. While the proportions of heating and water heating decreased, both refrigeration and other appliances experienced a growth. Meanwhile, lighting remained the same, accounting for the smallest category.

In 1995, the figure for heating stood at the highest proportion (40%), followed by water heating at a moderate share (30%). However, refrigeration, lighting, and other appliances presented a similar proportion, at 10% each.

By 2015, the proportion of heating declined considerably, reaching 30%. Likewise, water heating saw a marked decline to a quarter. By contrast, both other appliances and refrigeration represented a considerable rise, with the former reaching 20% and the latter constituting 15%. Lighting, on the other hand, remained unchanged, at just a tenth.