We Australians design our homes for the summer. We love big open living areas, glass walls, anything that’ll let a little more of the blue sky in. The trouble is that in winter, we’ve created the perfect passage for every last breath of heat to escape from our homes. Unfortunately, this means that we often run up huge energy bills during the winter, trying to keep away the cold. Try these top tips to reduce your energy expenditure this winter, and stay snug.
By Michelle Balogh
Decorate for warmth: To make the most out of your heating system, decorate for warmth. Invest in a set of flannel sheets for your bed, keep your curtains closed, roll out a rug and ensure that every last gap between you and the cold is covered. These techniques will mean you need to run the heater for the smallest amount of time and ensure the lowest possible energy bills at the end of the season.
Change the filter: If you’re using a heater with a filter, clean or change it regularly. A dirty filter forces the heater to work harder and therefore use up more precious energy. You’ll be saving dimes in no time. Schedule an energy audit: If you’re not sure that you’re heating system is efficient schedule an energy audit for your home. An expert will be able to tell you precisely where heat is escaping and how you can get the most snug nights for your dollar.
Don’t heat empty rooms! Keeping a small section of your house nice and toasty is a lot cheaper than keeping the whole place almost warm. If there are any rooms that you aren’t using at all, invest in a door draft stopper (remember those fabric snakelike strips that gran used to have?). These might be a little old fashioned but there are plenty of chic, contemporary versions available online.
Create a warm atmosphere: Ok, so this won’t actually increase the temperature of your home, but we all know the pleasure of walking into a room that has a cosy, warm atmosphere. Light a candle, toss a throw over the sofa and invite some friends over. You’ll be feeling winter wonderful in no time.
Rescu. Recommends: Jo Malone home candles in Wild Fig & Cassis, a rich wintery scent.
Try Luke Mangan’s favourite winter recipes roasted pork belly and apple and rhubarb crumble.
