How Do I... Reduce My Winter Electricity Bill?
The cost of warming your home in winter really adds up. Here's how to take the sting out of your next power bill
Georgia Madden
22 June 2022
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and design questions. Here, Luke Menzel, chief executive officer at the Energy Efficiency Council, shares some practical tips for keeping a lid on your winter heating consumption and costs.
Stop heat escaping
For most homes in colder parts of Australia, heating is by far the biggest slice of the energy-bill pie. Insufficient insulation and draughty homes mean that heaters have to work much harder to keep you warm, which adds to power costs.
Draught-proofing your home to prevent heat escaping is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save energy, allowing you to stay warm and toasty without cranking up the thermostat.
For most homes in colder parts of Australia, heating is by far the biggest slice of the energy-bill pie. Insufficient insulation and draughty homes mean that heaters have to work much harder to keep you warm, which adds to power costs.
Draught-proofing your home to prevent heat escaping is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save energy, allowing you to stay warm and toasty without cranking up the thermostat.
Turn the thermostat down
Turning the thermostat too high can be a huge drain on energy and your finances, with each degree adding around 10 percent to your heating bill. For maximum efficiency, aim to set it between 18 and 20°C. If this feels too chilly (most of us prefer a more comfortable 25 or 26°C in winter), try moving away from uncovered windows, sealing draughts and popping on a jumper.
Turning the thermostat too high can be a huge drain on energy and your finances, with each degree adding around 10 percent to your heating bill. For maximum efficiency, aim to set it between 18 and 20°C. If this feels too chilly (most of us prefer a more comfortable 25 or 26°C in winter), try moving away from uncovered windows, sealing draughts and popping on a jumper.
Rug up
Having too many cold surfaces in your home can add to the chill factor too – in fact, it can have just as much of an effect as air temperature.
To make your home feel warmer, consider installing secondary glazing and adding heavy curtains to windows, laying rugs on cold, hard floors, and moving your favourite armchair so it’s not right beside a cold window.
Open your curtains during the day to allow the winter sun to warm the surfaces in your home. And draw curtains at night to keep the heat in.
Need to improve the indoor temperature of your home? Find heating and air conditioning specialists near you on Houzz
Having too many cold surfaces in your home can add to the chill factor too – in fact, it can have just as much of an effect as air temperature.
To make your home feel warmer, consider installing secondary glazing and adding heavy curtains to windows, laying rugs on cold, hard floors, and moving your favourite armchair so it’s not right beside a cold window.
Open your curtains during the day to allow the winter sun to warm the surfaces in your home. And draw curtains at night to keep the heat in.
Need to improve the indoor temperature of your home? Find heating and air conditioning specialists near you on Houzz
Only heat the rooms you’re using
Rather than heating your entire home, zone your heating so it only warms up those rooms you spend time in. Do this by closing doors to keep the heat where you need it. If you’re installing a new heating system, consider a ducted system that can be zoned for individual rooms.
Tip: Check ducting before the start of winter to ensure it’s leak-free, well-insulated and in proper working condition. This can sometimes be done with thermal imaging cameras, to save crawling around in dark spaces.
Rather than heating your entire home, zone your heating so it only warms up those rooms you spend time in. Do this by closing doors to keep the heat where you need it. If you’re installing a new heating system, consider a ducted system that can be zoned for individual rooms.
Tip: Check ducting before the start of winter to ensure it’s leak-free, well-insulated and in proper working condition. This can sometimes be done with thermal imaging cameras, to save crawling around in dark spaces.
Reconsider halogens
Halogen downlights can be a huge energy waster in winter. Aside from their high energy consumption, these lights need to be kept far away from insulation as a fire-safety precaution. This means there is an uninsulated patch of ceiling surrounding halogen downlights that provides an easy escape route for heat.
The heat that rises from each downlight can also create a chimney effect and suck warm air out of your house, which leads to chilly draughts.
LED (light-emitting diodes) are much more energy-efficient than traditional halogen globes and are available in a wide range of lighting ‘temperatures’ (or colours) and designs.
Halogen downlights can be a huge energy waster in winter. Aside from their high energy consumption, these lights need to be kept far away from insulation as a fire-safety precaution. This means there is an uninsulated patch of ceiling surrounding halogen downlights that provides an easy escape route for heat.
The heat that rises from each downlight can also create a chimney effect and suck warm air out of your house, which leads to chilly draughts.
LED (light-emitting diodes) are much more energy-efficient than traditional halogen globes and are available in a wide range of lighting ‘temperatures’ (or colours) and designs.
Replace old appliances
That old, second fridge in the garage or dated reverse-cycle air conditioner in the living room could be costing you more than you realise. Consider the numbers: a new, energy-efficient fridge can cost half as much to run as one that’s 15 to 20 years old – this equates to a saving of about $150 per year. Meanwhile, most reverse-cycle heating/cooling systems are between 30 and 40 percent more efficient than those from 15 years ago.
Splashing out on new energy-efficient appliances can cut your energy costs considerably.
That old, second fridge in the garage or dated reverse-cycle air conditioner in the living room could be costing you more than you realise. Consider the numbers: a new, energy-efficient fridge can cost half as much to run as one that’s 15 to 20 years old – this equates to a saving of about $150 per year. Meanwhile, most reverse-cycle heating/cooling systems are between 30 and 40 percent more efficient than those from 15 years ago.
Splashing out on new energy-efficient appliances can cut your energy costs considerably.
Be star savvy
Most major appliances, such as fridges and reverse-cycle heating/cooling systems, come labelled with an energy-star rating, which tells you how efficient they are and how much energy they’ll consume. It ranges from one to six stars (although in recent years, four additional high-performance stars have been added to many products). The more stars, the more efficient the product. Appliances with more stars may cost a little more, but you’ll save the money back in running costs.
Most major appliances, such as fridges and reverse-cycle heating/cooling systems, come labelled with an energy-star rating, which tells you how efficient they are and how much energy they’ll consume. It ranges from one to six stars (although in recent years, four additional high-performance stars have been added to many products). The more stars, the more efficient the product. Appliances with more stars may cost a little more, but you’ll save the money back in running costs.
Be aware that if you have an older appliance at home with a three-star label, it might only rate as two stars by today’s standards – and may not even be allowed to be sold under current minimum standard rules.
The number below the stars on the label is a calculation of how much electricity the appliance will typically consume in a year. Multiply this number by your electricity tariff to get annual running costs.
Browse more beautiful fireplaces to inspire your own
The number below the stars on the label is a calculation of how much electricity the appliance will typically consume in a year. Multiply this number by your electricity tariff to get annual running costs.
Browse more beautiful fireplaces to inspire your own
Tip: Tariffs can differ significantly at different times of day, so choosing when to use your appliance can help save you money. You might find it more cost-efficient to run your washer, dryer or dishwasher at night or early in the morning.
Reduce pump time
If you have a swimming pool, halving the pump-timer duration in winter can result in substantial savings. However, do check with your local pool or spa specialist to ensure you maximise energy efficiency while still meeting all the health requirements needed with a pool.
If you have a swimming pool, halving the pump-timer duration in winter can result in substantial savings. However, do check with your local pool or spa specialist to ensure you maximise energy efficiency while still meeting all the health requirements needed with a pool.
Your turn
What’s your winter energy-saving tip? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, share it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Get your next dose of energy-efficient design here with 3 Reasons to Love Recessed Downlights… and Mistakes to Avoid
What’s your winter energy-saving tip? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, share it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Get your next dose of energy-efficient design here with 3 Reasons to Love Recessed Downlights… and Mistakes to Avoid
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Replace all gas appliances with efficient electric appliances, disconnect the gas service and save $250- $300 annually on the daily supply charge alone.
Buy a Heat Pump hot water service, my Heat Pump uses around 1kWh a day in summer and 2kWh a day in winter to provide more than enough hot water for a family of four.
Seal up all gaps and droughts, particularly around doors, windows, unused heating or cooling vents, unused fire places and plumbing.
Use an efficient RCAC for heating and cooling all year round. I tested my Gas ducted system against my RCAC over a winter and found my RCAC used only slightly more power to heat my home than the power used to run the fan on my gas ducted system.
Electric Induction cooktops are amazing to cook on, offering extremely precise control of temperature. You can boil a pot of water for pasta far quicker than the kettle and cook so gently you can heat chocolate in a pot directly on the stove. Best thing I ever did was go from gas to induction. Gas cooking has been linked to asthma and other serious respiratory conditions. They now say cooking with gas is as dangerous for you and your family as smoking inside your home.
Insulate your ceiling leaving no gaps. Ensure you have all lighting with IC-F LED lights to allow insulation on top of these or have lighting that does not cause a penetration into the ceiling such as hanging lights.
Insulate walls, floors and install secondary glazing or replace glazing with a double glazed unit.
We have replaced as many light globes with LED ones as we can. Always run the dishwasher after 8am & before 12 noon. We have solar panels for electricity & when they have had it, we will replace with more solar panels & a battery system. Our hot water system is solar. Our house is all electric. One day all the draughty windows will be replaced, doing 2 a year. When there is sun & nook out of the breeze, we sit & take advantage of the free heat...lol.
We spent 3k on a 3.7 kw solar aray system and have had no power bills for 3 years......