Saving energy and emissions this winter
Published on 07 May 2020
Heating your home in winter can have a huge impact on your energy costs, and on the environment, but there are many simple tricks that can help you save energy and stay warm this winter.
Living - When you’re at home, remember to shut the doors to areas in your home that you aren’t using (like the bathroom or laundry) to ensure that you only heat the rooms you need. It’s also a great idea to turn off any unused lights and appliances and even the on-stand-by items, and install energy-saving light globes if you haven’t already done this.
Heating – In the cooler months, heating contributes to a large portion of electricity or gas bills. To help reduce these costs, set your thermostat between 19 - 20 degrees Celsius for warming. Every degree of heating above this range can increase your energy costs by between 5-10 per cent*. Don’t heat empty houses – so don’t ‘pre-warm’ by setting timers to come on before you’re home and remember to turn off your heater when you go to bed or if you leave the house.
Windows – Used correctly, your windows play a big part in heating your home. Windows can let as much as 40%* of your heating out. If you put your hand on the window pane, you’ll feel the cold that your heater is trying to warm up. So, when the sun isn’t shining, close your blinds or curtains to help keep the heat inside. Also consider retrofitting double glazing without having to replace existing windows. These will also reduce your heating bills in winter and keep out noise at the same time**.
Hot water – Installing a water efficient showerhead is one of the most cost-effective ways you can save on your energy bill by reducing the amount of water you heat. If you’re changing your hot water system over, look to install energy efficient heat pumps.
Outdoors – Look at installing solar panels. The payback begins immediately – with lower electricity bills – and rebates are also available from the Victorian Government through their Solar Savers program. As well as this, you’ll be creating renewable energy and reducing your contribution to climate change. You can also use programmable timers or sensors on outdoors lights to cut down on energy usage.
By making small changes to your everyday life, you will not only save money, but you can significantly reduce your contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and help to protect our climate and our future.
For more information about reducing your impact on the environment, visit www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
For more information about Solar Savers, visit www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
Message from the Mayor, Cr Sarah Carter
“As the cooler months approach, we know that keeping warm is extremely important. We hope these handy tips help our entire community keep well and safe, while also helping everyone to positively contribute to the environment and save money.”
* https://www.energy.gov.au/household-guides/winter
** https://renew.org.au/resources/how-we-can-help/sustainable-home-design/windows-and-glazing/