With today’s cost-of-living pressures, winter can be a challenging time financially for households, especially with soaring electricity and gas bills.

Here are some tips to manage your energy costs this winter and keep the household budget in check.

1) Be smart about heating

Firstly, choose your heating wisely. According to Choice, reverse-cycle air con is the cheapest way to heat your home.

Portable electric heaters are convenient and cheap to buy, but they’re expensive to run and will drive up power bills. Choice estimates that running a reverse-cycle air conditioner for an entire year could cost less than running an electric heater for the winter months.

Next, heat only the rooms you’re using, rather than the entire property. Close the doors to any unused spaces and save on energy and cost.

Instead of blasting the thermostat, opt for a comfortable temperature of between 18 and 20 degrees. Every degree of additional heating can add up to 10 per cent on your energy use. If your heating system has a programmable function, pre-set it to warm your home during the times of day when you really feel the cold. To save money, turn off heating when you’re not home or overnight.

2) Seal gaps and cracks

To heat a room efficiently, aim to seal any gaps or cracks that could create a draught.

Up to 40 per cent of your heating can be lost through the windows. Check windows are closed properly, and draw the blinds or curtains to retain the heat inside. You might even consider double glazing, though this can be costly.

Ensure doors are firmly closed and use a draught stopper for added heating efficiency. If you have hard floors, lay down thick rugs for added insulation.

3) Warm yourself up in cost-effective ways

To reduce your power bills, rug up rather than reaching for the heater remote during winter. Consider materials that are warm, like flannel for your bed linen and wool clothing.

A hot water bottle or heated throw is a cost-effective way to warm up, rather than heating an entire room. Just be sure to read the instructions and safety warnings.

Lastly, keep showers short and sharp. Heating hot water can account for over 20 per cent of household energy use.

4) Service your heating systems

Regular maintenance of your heating system is important for efficiency, so that it doesn’t have to work harder to heat your home.

Clean the filters and ensure the vents are clear of dust. It might take you 10 minutes, but it could help reduce your energy consumption and save you money in the long run.

Gas heaters should be serviced by a professional.

5) Be mindful of insulation and appliances

How well is your property insulated? Heat can escape easily from poorly insulated properties. Having a fully insulated home could reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as half, so it’s worth considering.

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances is another way to save money on your electricity bills over time. Don’t forget to turn off appliances that are not in use at the power point (such as televisions and computers), so that they’re not using energy while in standby mode.

6) Switch ceiling fans to reverse

Switch your ceiling fans to reverse mode, which will make the blades turn anti-clockwise. This will disperse the warm air from your heating system around the room and back down towards the ground.

7) Make the most of the sun

During the day, allow as much sunlight into your home as possible to warm it up naturally. If you have the budget for solar panels, they can be a worthwhile long-term investment to help reduce your energy costs.

With the right planning, your winter heating doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re looking to renovate your home to make it more energy efficient, or you’d like to purchase a newer home with better energy performance, chat to us today about your finance options.