Heat Smarter

Home heating and cooling systems combined are the largest energy consumers in Australian homes. The best way to avoid the cost of heating your home in winter is to ensure your home is appropriately insulated for the climate you live in. However, this is easier said than done and it may not be an option for this winter. If you plan to buy a portable heater, ensure it’s a smart purchase and do your research first. When using a portable heater to warm your home, remember:

• Shut all doors and windows of the rooms you’re trying to heat
• Let natural sunlight into your house during the day and close curtains or blinds at night
• Choose a heater that’s appropriate for the room you are trying to heat (this is where the research will pay off!)

Make Small Lifestyle Changes

You don’t need to freeze in your own home to maintain a sustainable lifestyle during winter. Make small changes like washing your clothes on a cold cycle, cut back time spent in the shower and layer up according to the temperature. The right bedding (we’re talking wool quilts and flannelette sheets) can make the world of difference when it comes to staying warm and comfortable at night.

If your home runs on solar energy; you can also look at your energy usage habits to ensure you’re supporting your system in the best ways possible. Try to use all major appliances during hours of peak energy conversion. This will prevent the need to draw energy from the grid.

Switch Off Appliances

You might be under the impression that a light switch or a small appliance doesn’t have a major effect on your energy consumption; however you’d be surprised! Switch off lights that aren’t in use, turn off your devices instead of switching them to standby mode and turn off the heater once the room feels warm. It’ll make a bigger difference to your energy consumption than you realise.

If you’re running some older appliances, calculate their average consumption to determine whether they’re serving their purpose efficiently. It could be time to upgrade to appliances with a higher energy efficiency rating to ensure your power bill is reduced year round.

Use Clean Energy

If you’ve been spending more time at home recently, chances are you’ve thought once or twice about how solar power could benefit you. If you’ve been working from home, studying online or running your business remotely; your home’s energy consumption will inevitably be higher. Assess what the future at home looks like for you and consider whether investing in solar could set you up for clean and smart energy consumption in the future.

If you’re interested in exploring the benefits and learning more about how solar power works, get in touch with our team today.

Make smart choices this winter! Take a balanced approach to how you heat your home and adopt habits that will keep you comfortable without breaking the bank.