Autumn is truly underway, the days and nights are getting noticeably colder and winter is almost here. http://www.betta.com.au/

1. Energy Efficient Heating for the Whole
House
Autumn is truly underway, the days and nights are getting noticeably colder and winter is almost here. Most of us
have already had a few evenings in front of the fireplace or snuggled up with a good movie while the heater was
on for the first time in over 6 months.
As nice as summer was, the colder days always seem to come as a little shock and Australians instinctively turn
to cranking up the heating. To avoid a big shock when the electricity or gas bill arrives, it’s important to know how
to heat your whole house in an energy efficient way, saving you money every day.
How to Heat
Here’s a few handy tips that’ll help you save money on your energy bills, including how to heat and which
appliances to use.
Invest in the right aircon upfront
Some air conditioners are more energy efficient than others. If you want to save money in the long run, you should
go for a reverse-cycle split system air conditioner, and pay close attention to energy star ratings. They might cost a
bit more, but the investment will be worth it in the long-term!
Use the right settings
Are you at work most of the weekdays? You don’t want to have any heaters running during that time. No need to
pay money to heat an empty house. Depending on your heating method, you can program your appliance so it
only comes on half an hour before you get up, and automatically turns off by the time you leave the house. You
can also set the temperature to a lower degree, 21 degrees celsius are generally perfectly fine to feel comfortable
in a house.

2. Get a Portable Heater
If you find yourself only using some of your rooms during the week (e.g. you’re usually in the living room after
work and then go to sleep in your bedroom), it can make a big difference to invest in a portable heater. This allows
you to move it to whichever room you need to heat at the time, rather than heating your whole house.
Use a heated throw instead of the aircon
Most people find an electric blanket is more than enough for the bedroom as they sleep better in a colder climate
that doesn’t dry out their sinuses. But that’s not the only way to use them – a heated throw is also great for
lounging in front of the TV. It will use less energy than an air conditioner or heater because it heats through built-in
wires, and once heated the warmth is trapped under it, so you usually only need to heat it for 10-30 minutes to get
warm!
Draught-Proofing
No matter how well insulated your home is or if you recently installed triple glazed windows, if your home is
draughty, you will have problems keeping the heat inside, essentially paying to heat the outdoors too.
Did you know you can save up to 25% of your energy bills by ensuring no hot air can leak out through gaps or
cracks in your house? Taking these few steps is a very cost-effective and easy way to heat your home more
efficiently:

3. Seal Gaps & Cracks
Check around doors and windows for any draughts coming through. A candle flame can make it easier to notice
smaller cracks – but make sure to keep it far away from anything flammable like curtains or window decoration.
After you found cracks, fill them with either caulk (for smaller cracks) or expanding foam (for bigger gaps).
Draught Stoppers
Most doors, especially in older houses, have a large gap between floor and the base of the door. Avoid hot air
leaking out and cold air creeping in by either attaching a bristle strip or a commonly used fabric roll (we like to call
them “fabric sausage” and recently found one in the shape of a sausage dog – perfect for the kid’s room!).
Curtains
If you sealed all cracks and put draught stoppers under all doors and yet it still feels quite chilly in your home, you
might want to invest in some heavy curtains. Floor-length curtains that touch the walls on either side of the
window are ideal to prevent hot air from escaping through single glazed windows. Just make sure you remember
to open these windows every now and then to prevent mould from growing.