Heating and cooling your home can consume large amounts of electricity. The information below will help you minimise the power you need to keep you home comfortably cool in summer and warm in winter.

Air conditioners

Choosing the right size
An air conditioning unit that is too large for an area will lower the temperature quickly, and be switched off by its thermostat. This will cause more wear and tear, because its thermostat will switch it on and off more often. A system that's too small for the area just won't do the job. Consider the real needs of your household.

Temperature settings
Select the most comfortable and energy efficient temperatures:24-25°C during summer18-19°C during winter

Curtains and blinds
Choose curtains and blinds with lighter colours or reflective backing to keep out the heat of the sun.

Recirculate air
Select the air 'recirculate' setting. Always drawing warm air in from outside uses more electricity.

Doors and windows
Keep doors and windows in the cooled area closed if you're using a refrigerative air conditioner. Shade windows on the western side with trees or awnings.

Clean filters
Whether you have a refrigerative or evaporative air cooler, clean filter pads regularly.

Home insulation
The ceilings above any air conditioned area should have insulation with a minimum rating of R2.5.

Heaters

Reverse cycle air conditioner
The heating cycle of these systems is the best way to warm an area. They cost about half as much to operate as radiators, fan heaters and oil-filled heaters.

Fan and oil-filled heaters
The right size heater will warm the area to the desired temperature and be switched off at intervals by its thermostat. If the heater is too small for the area it will run constantly using more power.

Bar radiators
Bar radiators direct heat to a concentrated area. They are not designed to heat an entire room.

Old-fashioned heating
Old style wood or coal burners are very popular, and use no electricity. However, open fireplaces are quite inefficient compared to the closed-style potbelly.

Home insulation
The ceilings above any heated area should have insulation with a minimum rating of R2.5.