Heat up your home, not your energy bill

Heating your home can be expensive.  In fact, up to half of your total annual energy bill can be attributed to heating.  (Source-Country Energy brochure Jan 2008)

Here are some ideas to keep costs down and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions:-
1. If you’re heating a large space, a gas heater or reverse cycle air conditioner will generally be more efficient.
2. Space heaters are usually more efficient than central heating as you are only heating one room, not the whole house.
3. Check an appliance’s star rating before you purchase it.  Better energy efficiency means it will cost you less to run the appliance.
4. You can lose 70% of heat through ceiling and walls, 20% through windows, and 10% through elevated floors.
5. Make sure you seal draughts around doors and hang close-fitting, heavy curtains (preferably with pelmets) around windows. Draughts can increase your heating costs by up to 25%.
6. The optimum temperature inside a home is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.  Every degree above this level can increase your heating bill by 10%.
7. Use ceiling fans to help push down the heat that has risen to the ceiling to keep the room at optimum temperature.
8. Open curtains to north-facing windows on sunny days to invite free heat into your home.

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