Hot tips for winter warmth

With winter closing in and cost-of-living pressures rising, keeping your home warm without breaking the bank can be challenging. Luckily, experts at consumer advocacy group Choice have crunched the numbers on different types of heating to help you save money on energy bills.

According to Choice household expert Chris Barnes, 97 per cent of Australians say their household bills and expenses have increased over the last 12 months – the highest number recorded in more than ten years of the consumer survey.

“So it’s more important than ever to do what you can do to reduce your energy bill”, Barnes adds.

Here are the Choice’s top tips to reduce energy bills:

1. Use a reverse-cycle air conditioner for heating
“In the long run, air conditioners are the cheapest way to heat your home, as opposed to using something like a portable electric heater”, Barnes says. “Our estimates show that running a reverse-cycle air conditioner for the entire year can cost less than running an electric heater for just three months over winter.

“However, if you don’t already have one installed, the upfront cost of buying a reverse-cycle air conditioner is anywhere from $600 to $5,550 – plus a few hundred dollars for the installation.”

2. Ensure your home is properly insulated
Having a well-insulated home makes a big difference to keep the heat in and the cold out. According to Barnes, up to 35 per cent of your home’s warmth can be lost without insulation, which is likely to drive up energy bills.

“However, if you can’t afford insulation or are renting, there are still plenty of cost-effective ways to keep your home warm”, he suggests. “Sealing draughts, closing your curtains or blinds, and using rugs, can all help retain heat, which in turn will help reduce your heating bills.”

3. Be smart with heating options
“On cold days, avoid turning the air conditioner up higher than necessary, as this will increase your energy bill”, Barnes advises. “We recommended setting the temperature around 18-20°C. Every extra degree increases your heating energy use by up to 10 per cent.

“While the heating is on, it’s also important to close doors to rooms you aren’t using. Only heating the rooms you’re in will reduce energy use and therefore lower your bill.”

4. Heat the person, not the home
Another cheaper way to stay warm is by using personal heating products such as heated throws or electric blankets. Barnes suggests that rather than using an electric heater, which takes longer to warm up and is only ideal for shorter usage times, you try an electric blanket or throw.

“Our research shows you shouldn’t expect to pay more than $48 per season to run a single bed electric blanket, including pre-heating and leaving it on overnight, every night for three months”, Barnes says, adding that heated throws are even cheaper, with running costs ranging from $12 to $18 over a few months.”

As with any powered product, ensure you follow the safety instructions and never leave them unattended.