Heating
Did you know that an energy efficient heating system can use 40% less energy to heat your home?
Factors to consider when purchasing a heating system:
To heat your home economically and effectively, you should also look at the following aspects of your home that help to retain the heat:
- insulation in the ceilings, walls and floors
- sealing off draughts
- heavy window coverings (i.e. curtains with pelmets)
- zoning of living and sleeping areas
- floor coverings (carpets and rugs)
Factoring these considerations into your ‘heating package’ will save your household energy and money and also help the environment.
Running your system efficiently
- Heat only those areas you are currently using. Close these areas off and keep windows and doors closed.
- Use a correctly sized heater for the space you are heating.
- Try not to overheat your house. Set the thermostat to between 18° to 20°C - every one-degree increase in temperature could increase your energy bill by up to 15%.
- Avoid leaving the heater running on low overnight or while you are out of the house.
- Turn off pilot lights (if fitted) over summer.
- Maintain your heating system according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Seal out draughts with draught excluders - air leaks can account for 15 to 25% of heat loss.
- On dark winter days, cover windows with close fitting, floor length heavy curtains - up to 30% of total heat loss from a home occurs through uncovered windows. Leaving curtains open can increase your heating bill by up to $80 per quarter for the average home!
- On sunny winter days, open up the curtains to north-facing windows for free natural solar energy to warm your home.
- Ceiling fans can be used to redistribute heat that has collected up at the ceiling, moving it down to floor level.
- Insulate your home. Non-insulated ceilings, walls and floors can account for over 70% of total heat loss from a home.
Page last updated: 29 August 2011
