How to stay warm this winter without breaking the bank
For many Australians the onset of winter has often meant piling on extra layers at home, waking up breathing a mist of condensation and keeping blankets and doonas handy on the couch as the winter chill bites. Either that or racking up massive winter energy bills powering inefficient appliances in uninsulated homes.
But according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), the first step to reducing massive bills and increasing winter comfort is to switch away from gas. Their most recent modelling shows that a typical home in Melbourne could save over $1,300 annually by switching its gas appliances to efficient electric alternatives.
With that in mind, what are the most carbon (and wallet) friendly ways to stay warm this winter?
Tim Forcey, author of My Efficient Electric Home Handbook, says that after working and writing about home efficiency for over a decade – the verdict is in and the most sustainable and cheapest way to heat your home over winter is with reverse-cycle air conditioners.
The main hurdle preventing their widespread use comes down to branding. 'We've demonised the use of air conditioners – some people still think they should only be used in emergencies,' he says. 'But the reality is that heating with an air-con can cost a third of the cost of heating with gas.'
Jay Gordon from IEEFA says he has calculated that a reverse-cycle air conditioner uses about a fifth of the energy of a ducted heater. 'Heat pump hot water systems are also several times more efficient than gas hot water systems, and homes that fully replace their gas appliances can save over $300 in fixed annual charges by disconnecting from the gas network,' he says.
So switching away from gas is the first step towards a more efficient and less costly warm home in winter – and it is worth looking into any government rebates available in your area to take the sting out of upgrading your home.
Electric and oil heaters can of course still serve a purpose if used in small spaces such as under your desk at home, says Forcey, as they work like a toaster and can take the edge off. Many may also have the advantage of including timers to regulate their use, but it's worth keeping track of how much energy they use to make sure you don't get a nasty surprise at the end of winter.
It's worth noting that several Australian states are now offering significant rebates for installing electric appliances. In Victoria, if gas appliances break down, it is now often cheaper to replace them with more efficient electric appliances.
We all know that most older Australian homes and apartments can feel like glorified tents in winter so DIY, low-cost improvements such as draught stoppers, gap sealings, and even installing heavy curtains and keeping them closed during the day, can help your home retain heat and remove drafts.
On top of renewable energy upgrades, it's also vital that you prepare your home with back-to-basics thermal efficiency improvements. The most practical home renovations you could make include double-glazing your windows and upgrading ceiling insulation. These investments can make a big impact in terms of reducing energy consumption and cost.
It's also worth considering having a smart meter installed in your home to help understand and regulate your overall energy consumption patterns. These will allow you to monitor your electricity consumption in real time (even remotely) and eliminate the need for manual meter readings or estimated bills.
For those renting or without the budget to upgrade your home's energy system or undertake costly renovations – other practical measures include something as simple as taking advantage of the sun's rays during the day by spending more time in those rooms that attract the most direct sunlight.
And if double-glazing is outside your budget, using bubble-wrap over the windows in winter is a poor-man's solution that will help regulate your home's thermal envelope. Another age-old trick I've found myself doing is wearing my mother's warm hand-knitted socks both around the home and in bed to increase personal comfort levels as the mercury drops.
Of course, perhaps the most practical way to stay warm this winter might be to find yourself a warm pet or human to cuddle. But that's something no government rebate can help you with.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
From Labour's spending review to singing in the shower: Edith Pritchett's week in Venn diagrams
Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning Sign up for our email Guardian Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, waters and community. We pay respect by giving voice to social justice, acknowledging our shared history and valuing the cultures of First Nations.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I like Aussies but there is one huge issue with your culture I just can't get past: 'Sorry if you're offended'
A Swedish-born former Australian resident in his 20s has made an observation about Aussie attitudes that has sparked a heated online discussion. The young man, who 'partially grew up' living and attending school in Queensland before moving back to Europe, shared his observation about the apparent lack of value Australians place on education and intellectual pursuits. Taking to Reddit, he shared his views in an 'Ask An Aussie' subreddit post titled: 'What is the cause of Australian anti-intellectualism?' 'I would like to begin by saying that I like Australia and Australians, and I hope I don't come across as offensive. This is just one aspect of Australian society,' he began. 'In my experience, people in Australia tend to not value education so much. 'When they do, it's usually because it leads to a higher-paying job. Knowledge for the sake of knowing is not really valued, the dominating idea being that education only matters if it can be capitalised on.' The lengthy post saw the man explain that he came to this conclusion after leaving Australia and moving back to Sweden, and later France. During his time attending school Down Under, the self-declared 'bookish' man said he 'often felt estranged from other students' on account of his thirst for learning. He added that he struggled to find like-minded 'people who were interested in literature, poetry and even politics'. 'Very few read books in their free time,' he added. The post concluded by asking Aussies to weigh in on this perceived anti-intellectual attitude and offer some explanations. The recent post quickly lit up with over 1,500 responses. Perhaps surprisingly, many were from Aussies who agreed with aspects of the original poster's sentiment. The reply that received the most upvotes surmised the issue as stemming from a broader Australian social attitude of wanting to fit in. The short but popular comment explained: 'In high school, it doesn't pay to be scholastic or otherwise different or you get mocked. Sad really, and this often carries forward into everyday life.' 'Too well spoken? Pronounce your words correctly? You might get bullied,' one replied. A different but related explanation was also suggested in regard to the value Australian culture places on sporting achievements. Many commenters highlighted that while academic prowess could sometimes be a source of ridicule during schooling years, Australian students were, however, encouraged to proudly excel at sports. One commenter said they were 'made fun of' at school for being 'studious and bad at sports'. Another raised the idea more broadly, writing in part that Australia 'prizes physical pursuits over intellectual ones'. However, many were at pains to explain that Australians do indeed hold value in the pursuit of education. The difference, however, is that many Australians are conscious not to show off for being 'too 'clue-y' or 'booksmart' because it projects an air of being 'an arrogant a***hole who is far too "up themselves"'. '[T]here's absolutely people around in Australia who enjoy intellectual pursuits, but keep low key about it,' read one reply. 'We have high rates of education, but we hate class distinction,' explained another response. 'If people feel like you are using jargon or bigger words than you need to, they will call you on it because they will assume you are putting on airs.' This also led to commentary about the pervasiveness of 'tall poppy syndrome' in Australian society, and how it discouraged those who were intellectually inclined from outwardly expressing these interests. 'I think a lot of Australian identity is shaped by the tall poppy syndrome and rebellion against elitism, which many Australians tie to intellectualism,' read part of one longer post. A financial argument also offered an interesting explanation for the perceived lack of value Australians place on a generalised pursuit of knowledge. 'Until recently you could get an extremely well-paying job in Australia with minimal, if any, education, mostly through mining. This led to a lot of people dismissing education as pointless, useless and expensive,' explained one commenter. Another agreed, writing: 'I've got mates without degrees or school-completion certificates who earn filthy money for mining companies, oil refineries etc.' 'The ability to earn money – lots of it – is valued much, much more highly than intelligence,' read part of another reply. But many commenters felt this attribute was actually something to 'love' about Australia, because it meant that 'unskilled workers can make good money and have a good life'. 'I think Australia tends to be fairly egalitarian,' one wrote. 'So in the same way we don't look up to intellectual jobs, we don't look down on trades or manual labour jobs.' To this point, even the original poster agreed that this was true of Australian society. Others pointed to the fact that while higher education was free in Sweden, in Australia university attracts huge fees, which has financial implications. 'Education is much cheaper in Europe. To get it here, you go into debt for a very long time. That means you need to get your money's worth,' one explained. 'Knowledge, for the sake of knowing, doesn't put food on the table or a roof over your head,' added another. Ultimately, many responders surmised that this perceived anti-intellectual attitude held by Australians was probably a result of a combination of the aforementioned factors. One response reflected: 'Intellectualism is considered 'navel-gazing' - sort of a self-indulgent waste of time. Others have mentioned tall-poppy syndrome, and I think that's partially true.' They concluded that this had created a feeling that 'non-productive' or 'non-capitalisable' styles of educational inquiry were 'frivolous'.
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- The Guardian
Mushroom murders trial comes to a close
Read more: You can subscribe for free to Guardian Australia's daily news podcast Full Story on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
