Keeping down your heating bill over winter

When the cold weather starts its tempting to crank up the heater! But there are lots of other ways to keep your home warm and make sure heating doesn't end up costing the earth.

Get yourself and your house snug first!

Warm yourself! Put a jumper and beanie on before turning on the heater and use a hot water bottle in bed!

Close up all the gaps and cracks in your home. Draughts are a major source of heat loss in winter and can increase your heating costs by about 25%.

Cover your windows. Windows are the source of 30% heat loss if left uncovered. Close fitting blinds and thick curtains with pelmets help to keep the warmth in.

Place rugs and carpets on timber or elevated slab floors.

One of the best things you can do to keep your home warm is install or top up insulation.

For information about rebates available visit http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_1924.html
For advice on insulation installation visit http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/insulation_installation.pdf
To read about the benefits of insulation visit http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/insulation_benefits.pdf



Use your heater efficiently

Keep down your heating bill by heating only the rooms you are using and keep doors and windows closed so you don't lose your warm air!

Turn your heating off overnight or while out during the day. A radiant panel heater heats the person not the room, so turn it off if you leave the room.

Put your heater on a timer so it will come on when you need it and go off when you don't.

Keep your heating system well maintained and get it checked if you think it might need a service. It may be using more energy than it needs to.

Install a ceiling fan to help circulate the warm air. This is a great way to ensure that warm air doesn't just get trapped near the ceiling!

If you have central heating:

Set your heater thermostat to 18-20 degrees in winter. Did you know that every degree over 22 adds 10% to your heating bill?

Set your thermostat to the temperature you require and leave it there. Unlike a car's accelerator pedal, your room won't heat up any quicker by putting the thermostat higher to start with.

Close off vents in rooms you are not using (but no more than 30% of your vents)

If you have vents under windows you can buy vent deflectors to direct the heat back into the room and not out the window!

Need some advice on heating or what heater to buy?
Sustainability Victoria have produced a large range of energy saving factsheets that can be downloaded from www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/2043-our-publications.asp. These include:

Choosing a heating system

Electric slab heating

Electric space heating

Gas ducted heating

Gas space heating

Heat shifters

Hydronic heating

Portable heaters

Reverse cycle air conditioning

Wood heating

Or give us a call at MEFL on (03) 9385 8585 and speak to a staff member about the best option for your situation.