5 ways to stay warm and save energy this winter

Set thermostats on heaters to 20°C or lower during the day and 16°C at night to reduce energy use and heat loss. Investing in a smart thermostat can also help you save energy and money by automatically adjusting the temperature based on your preferences and daily routine.

Aim to keep the air temperature comfortable, not hot enough to pad about barefoot, wearing shorts and t-shirt.

Heating an empty home, or room, is an easy way to accidentally waste money in terms of home energy use during the winter months. If you manually turn on your heating, whether it’s portable heaters or reverse cycle air conditioning, it’s all too easy to forget to switch it off when you rush out the door. Using a programmable timer to set your heating to come on only when you are at, or approaching, home can do away with this human error!

Using an electric blanket is more energy-efficient than leaving the heating on at night because it only heats up a small space - your bed - rather than your entire room or home.

For example, if your electricity costs 30 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and your electric blanket uses 100 watts per hour, it would cost you around three cents per hour to run. If you use a timer or thermostat with the blanket to limit the time its on (because it shouldn't be left on all night) you could be paying just a few cents to stay warm each night.

Hot water can account for a significant portion of your energy use during the winter, especially if you have an older, less efficient water heater. To reduce hot water use, wash clothes using the cold water setting on your washing machine.

Difficult though it may be, you might want to also think about taking shorter showers: shower timers and water-saving showerheads can help change your showering habits and reduce your energy consumption in the bathroom.

Investing in an energy efficient water heater, such as a heat pump, continuous flow (tankless) or solar-powered water heater, can also reduce your energy costs during the winter. Heat pump and solar hot water system upgrades may also qualify for Australian government rebates under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).

Insulating the roof, walls or floor of your home can reduce heat loss and help your heating system work more efficiently to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. If your home is poorly insulated, more heat will escape, which means that your heating system will have to work harder and consume more energy to keep the temperature stable.

Other low-cost ways of reducing heat loss include using draught excluders, ’door snakes’, weatherstrips or door sweeps around the bottom and edges of front and back doors.

By making a few simple changes to the way you use your heating and hot water appliances, and adopting some energy-saving habits, you can keep your winter energy bill in check while taking steps to combat climate change.

If you’re looking to upgrade to energy efficient hot water or heating systems, or reverse cycle air conditioners, Appliances Online has a huge selection to choose from. Check out our Heater Buying Guide for some tips on choosing the best system for you.