When heating or cooling your home or small business, 1-degree difference can have an impact on your power bill. By following a few simple tips and changing some basic behaviours, you can start using energy more efficiently.
- Dress for the weather. If it’s cold add some extra layers on, or if it’s warm, wear light-weight cotton to feel comfortable without having to turn the dial on your heating/cooling system.
- Only heat/cool the room you’re in and close doors to maintain the temperature in the areas you’re using.
- Insulate. Place draught sealing, like foam strips or door snakes, along the bottom of windows and doors to prevent any hot or cold air leaving.
- Naturally heat your space. On winter mornings, open your curtains or blinds on the north, east and west sides to allow the sun to naturally heat your home or small business space.
- In summer draw blinds and curtains early in the day to block out the summer heat.
- The optimal household temperature is between 18 – 20°C in winter and 24 – 27⁰C in summer. Every degree above or below this range, depending on the season, can add an extra 10% to your heating or cooling bill.