Beat the Winter Chills and Bills
As cool weather finally arrives, many of us begin the battle of staying warm at home without racking up a big winter power bill. These are some budget-friendly tips that don't involve significant renovation.
1. Draft-proofing. With a little bit of leg-work, draft-proofing can make a 25% difference to your heating bill and comfort. An outstanding free instructional resource is www.greenityourself.com.au. (Just make sure you have functional rangehoods and bathroom extraction fans before getting too enthusiastic!)
2. “Heat the human, not the home”. If you’re in an old cold home, perhaps working from home by yourself, grab a heated blanket which works by just heating you rather than the entire room(s) around you. Likewise, a bed electric blanket for a period before bedtime is more efficient than heating an entire bedroom.
3. Insulate those windows. While upgrading windows is an expensive task, there are some effective DIY improvements you can make:
a. Thick or cellular snug fitting curtains or blinds that stop convection current pushing air over your windows (i.e. blinds that fit the opening in the wall or a pelmet over thick curtains).
b. '3M Window Insulator Kits' are perfect for temporary installation over winter. They’re a barely visible plastic sheet tensioned over the entire window (easy to DIY install), which acts like double glazing while also stopping drafts through the window. But note that you can't open your window while it's installed.
c. Bubble wrap can actually be used to work similarly! Google ‘bubble wrap fixit chicks' to see a how-to video.
4. Use the most efficient heating. Don’t make the mistake of using gas heating if you’ve already installed a split system or reverse cycle system! Split systems (known as ‘heat pumps' in the rest of the world) are by far the most efficient form of electric heating, usually at least 4x more efficient than a resistance electric heating element, and cheaper to run than gas heating.
5. Water efficiency matters in winter too. Hot water heating accounts for a large chunk of your bill, especially if you don't have a heat pump system or solar power. Switching out inefficient water fittings like showerheads can be a budget-friendly move.
6. Stay ahead of condensation. Reduce condensation risk by:
a. Always use your rangehood when cooking and bathroom extraction fan when washing
b. Be wary of drying clothes on racks inside (use a ventilated room)
c. Condensation forms on cold surfaces, so insulation in the culprit ceilings/walls will help
d. A great short-term fix or management tool is a small portable dehumidifier
Looking for more?
The Cooee Retrofit Guide is coming out VERY soon! (Mid-winter 2025) - join our mailing list to receive the discounted launch sale offer.
