There are many ways to reduce your home energy use that are free and will save you money.
While it may take a while to bed down new ways of doing things around the home, once you do, they become second nature.
How can I reduce my heating bill?
Lowering your set temperature is a great way to reduce your heating costs. Another simple way to reduce your energy costs year-round is to invest in a programmable thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to have direct control over your comfort, and some models will even track your energy use throughout the day–allowing you to make micro-adjustments whenever you need.
Decorate for Cold Weather
The first chill of the season is a great time to decorate for the holidays–but it’s also a great excuse to break out some cozy favorites to make your home look and feel warmer! Add some fluffy throw blankets to the couch and put your favorite flannel sheets on your bed for a cozy way to stay warm while relaxing. You can also invest in rugs and insulated curtains, which help to trap warm air inside your home and prevent cold feet in the mornings.
Dress for the season
One of the easiest ways to save money in winter is to turn down the heater and put on some warmer clothes. This doesn’t mean dressing for the Antarctic—it just means putting on some warmer clothing before you crank up the temperature.
This can be a real money saver, given that each additional degree adds between 5% and 10% to your energy use.
While you’re at it, dress your bed for the season too by putting on an extra blanket.
Let the Light In
Open the curtains or blinds on your sun-facing windows during the day to let the sun heat your home for free! Once the sun sets in the evenings, close your blinds to reduce heat loss.
Turn it off
Turn off your heaters before going to bed and when you’re leaving the house—it’s cheaper and it’s safer too.
Switch Your Fan
Ceiling fans operate by moving warm air around your home—on a higher setting, they can create a wind chill effect that can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler! However, not many people want to feel cooler in the winter–so why use your fan?
Your ceiling fan actually has two settings. By switching your fan to run in ‘reverse’, your fan blades will spin the opposite direction and pull any warm air that’s risen to the ceiling back down to the ground level where you can feel it. Your fan should run counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter–it’s also worth noting that turning your fan on too high will still create the wind chill effect, which can make your home feel chilly, so keep it on a low setting for the best results.
Don’t use the shower to warm up
Hot water accounts for a large chunk of your power bill—about 25% of the average bill—so try to avoid the temptation of using the shower to get warm.
Staying in the shower uses up to 20 times as much energy as getting out and standing under two heat lamps instead. Even a few extra minutes in the shower will add to your power bill.
Turn off gadgets and appliances
Up to 3% of the electricity used in your home is used on gadgets plugged in on standby. TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, mobile phone chargers, microwave ovens, music docks and stereos are some of the biggest culprits.
Check that you’re using appliances efficiently and turn off unused appliances at the wall. Unplugging these gadgets can save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill all year round.
There are also heaps of ways to have fun ‘unplugged’—you could break out the board games or jigsaws.
Shop around and switch to save
Don’t assume your existing energy provider is offering you the best deal available. It’s worth looking at government price comparison web sites to check which provider is offering the best rates. You can use this as a negotiating point with your existing supplier, or you can just switch to save money.
If you live in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, south east Queensland or Tasmania, you can compare electricity and gas offers on energymadeeasy.gov.au. If you live in Victoria, visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au.
Call us today today to schedule a service heating system repair, replacement, installation, or tune-up services with our capable team! We offer honest, upfront pricing in writing and industry-leading warranties on parts and service.
Call Michael or Marty for all your heating services in Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surfcoast and surrounding areas.
