Have you been feeling the cold a little extra lately? As the days grow shorter and the winter temperature sets in, We know it can be tempting to crank up the heater to warm the house. Before you do, consider that heating can be one of the biggest power guzzlers in your home. Those extra running costs will add up, and before you know it your energy bill has sky rocketed.
Keep on reading for all our tips on how you can keep cosy and warm this winter without it raking up that energy bill.
1. Rug Up
Yes, this is probably the most obvious but warming yourself up is cheaper and easier than heating your whole home. Instead of turning the heating on, put on a pair of thick socks, slippers and a jumper. Even wrap yourself up in a fuzzy blanket and snuggle up on the couch.
2. Insulate your home
Acorrding to the DCCEEW (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water), up to 40% of a home's heating energy is lost through winows. Dressing according to the weather doesn't just apply to people. Quality curtains with insulating fabrics such as wool can help prevent loss of heat. Make sure on the rare sunny days we have in winter, keep your blinds all the way open to allow maximum sunlight into your home, then close them at night to trap the warm air.
If you're still feeling the frosty air or a slight draught, investigate further. The source could be coming from a poorly sealed window or door, never fear, a simple and cost effective fix can be an easy reseal from a local hard ware store like Bunnings.
Closing doors to un-used rooms can also be a great way of trapping heat in.
3. Use a hot water bottle
One of the easiest and most effective ways to warm up is by using the good-old hot water bottle. Slip your hot water bottle between the sheets a few minutes before you're ready for bed, then pop your feet in to feel a toasty duvet haven. Please always remember to read the instructions before using, children should never be left unsupervised with a hot water bottle.
4. Electric Blanket
To many peoples surpise, electric blankets don't use as much energy nor cost nearly as much as people think. Using an electric blanket can be highly cost effective as you usually only need to run one for about 10 to 30 minutes to warm up your bed. As the warm air is trapped under your duvet you should be kept warm all night. Many electric blankets come with an automatic timer that will switch the blanket off so it won't be on all night. If your electric blanket doesn't come with a timer, we wouldn’t recommend having it on all night, even if it has an all-night mode. Make sure to always read the instructions before using and always leave unplugged when unattended.
5. Get moving
The easiest (and cheapest) way to get warm in winter is to get the blood pumping. Light exercise, like going for a brisk walk, jog or bike ride will help you work up a sweat in no time.