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Keep the heat out of your energy bills this autumn

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Keep the heat out of your energy bills this autumn

As the weather cools make sure you’re being as energy efficient as possible. Here’s a few ideas to reduce your energy bills this autumn.

A little bit goes a long way

Heating and cooling together account for 40% of household energy use. Set your heating thermostat to 18°C to 20°C - every degree you increase your heating or cooling increases energy use up to 10%. The smaller the gap between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your costs.

Draught proof your home

Draught-proofing is a cheap way to keep your home warm while saving up to 25% on your heating bills. Seal gaps around doors and windows with draught or weather strips and seals. The most effective places to place seals are external doors and windows.

Only heat the room you are in and keep doors and curtains closed

The way that you live inside your home will have a big impact on your energy use and costs. The good news is that changing your habits is free! Open the curtains to the sun during the day to gain free heat, then close them when the sun goes down. Make sure you keep the doors closed to trap the warmth. 40% of your heat can escape when the curtains are open.

Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans

Your ceiling fan can help distribute warm air through a room during the cooler months. If your fan has a reverse rotation function, use it to push the air in the right direction for heating.

Air dry the washing and keep showers short

Try to avoid using the clothes dryer and use racks in heated rooms or outdoors while the good weather lasts. Hot water accounts for a large chunk of your power bill, so avoid using the shower to get warm. Staying in the shower uses up to 20 times as much energy as standing under two heat lamps.

Light savers

Consider switching to energy-efficient lighting. LEDs are better value for money than incandescent and halogen light bulbs. They use about 75% less energy and last 5-10 times longer.

If you’re taking off, switch off

If you’re taking off for a few days, make sure to switch off appliances like televisions, microwaves and gaming consoles at the power point so they’re not sucking electricity on standby mode while you’re away. Standby power can account for more than 3% of your household electricity use.

To find out more visit Council’s Home Energy Efficiency webpage.

Source: Northern Beaches Council : Keep the heat out of your energy bills this autumn
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