Before we jump into the tips, understanding your home’s energy usage can be a helpful place to start. For instance, did you know that the average Aussie home uses 40% of their energy on heating and cooling?
If you want to get a better understanding about your usage habits, check out the Origin app. You can track your usage* over time, which allows you to easily see how the seasons affect the way you use your energy. If you have a smart meter, you can even see daily breakdowns of your usage and the weather forecast on those days (available via My Account).
Smart ways to heat your home
Heat the hub
This one might seem obvious, but only heating the rooms you’re using can have a big impact. If the family, or your housemates, are spending majority of the day in the living room make sure the heating is off in the other rooms and ensure the doors are shut – this will trap in the heat. When using the heater, the most energy-efficient temperature to set it to is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Each degree above that uses roughly 15% more energy.
Consider whether you need to turn the heater on and off
When heating your home it may also be beneficial to keep your heating on all day. That’s right, if you have reverse cycle air-conditioning it’s efficiency will vary throughout the day.
Reverse cycle air-conditioners work by sucking heat from the air outside. So, theoretically if you set the temperature to 24 degrees when it’s 24 degrees outside, it would cost very little. As the majority of air conditioners have a sensor within them that regulates the temperature, it will work to heat your home to whichever temperature you set.
With this in mind, it’s best not to turn reverse cycle air-conditioning on and off. If you heat your home for a while, only to switch the heating back on when it gets cold again, your aircon is going to have to work hard to get back to that desired temperature.
Whereas if it’s on the same low temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius – hopefully not too different from the outside temperature – it’s going to run much more efficiently.
If you’re relying on portable electric heaters or gas systems, flicking them on and off isn’t going to make much of a difference as these appliances don’t have the sensor functionality like reverse cycle air-conditioners do.
Savour the sunshine
On sunny days, take advantage of the winter rays by opening your curtains and letting the sunshine warm your spaces. As the sun dips in the afternoon, keep the cool at bay by shutting your curtains and use draught stoppers to keep cool air from creeping in. Door seals, draught-proofing strips and door snakes can reduce your heating costs by up to 25%.
Cosy up with a heated throw
Keep extra cosy this winter by investing in a heated throw. Electric throws are cheaper to run than heaters and can save you around $150 compared to other types of heating. They’re also the perfect addition to a weekend of movie watching on the couch. You can calculate the running cost of small appliances with this handy calculator.
Take advantage of residual heat
If you’re cooking up a hearty winter feast, why let that residual oven heat go to waste? After you’ve finished, simply leave the oven door ajar (make sure no little hands can touch any hot surfaces). Any extra heat that’s escaping will help warm your kitchen and living space.
Pull out the slow cooker
With of many of us heading back into the office, worrying about what to have for dinner is the last thing you want to do after a long day. Slow cookers are a win-win, and they’re beginner chef friendly. Just whack a bunch of delicious things into a pot and voila! Six hours later it’s beef bourguignon. The other amazing thing about slow cookers is they use less energy than standard ovens. In fact, they use just a little more energy than a traditional light bulb. So, you can have something slow cooking all day while you work – with minimal strain on your energy bill.
Whatever the season, the best way to save on your energy bills is to create good energy habits and to make sure you’re on the right energy plan for your household’s needs.
Want to find out how you can be rewarded for saving energy? Join our energy-saving rewards program, Spike, today!
*We understand this feature isn’t currently working for all users and our team are working hard to fix it.
