NSW homes get a warm winter welcome

The winter Save Power campaign encourages householders to take easy steps to stay warm this winter and still save power:

• Choose an energy-efficient heating system – choose an efficient natural gas heater or an efficient reverse cycle heater, if gas is not an option. Energy rating labels will help householders identify the most efficient model and save up to 40 per cent off the power bill.
• Use extra layers – wearing warmer clothing and using extra blankets reduces the need to turn the heater up. Decreasing the temperature setting by just one degree can reduce power consumption for heating by up to 15 per cent.
• Get out of hot water – electric hot water systems account for a third of household power/electricity use. Switching from standard electric storage heaters to solar, heat pump or gas will make big savings on the power bill.
• Block off heat loss – when the heater is on, shut windows and doors and close curtains, especially at night, as a window can lose 10 times as much heat as the same area of insulated wall.
• Zone your home – use doors to divide spaces into smaller areas – it takes less power to heat a specific area rather than the entire house.
• Make a curtain call – use curtains, particularly thick ones, to minimise heat loss on winter nights.
• Stop the draught – draught-proofing by sealing gaps and using draft excluders on doors can save up to 25 per cent on the power bill.

If you are interested in finding out more about how to save power at home and the latest news on the Save Power campaign then subscribe to our Save Power e-newsletter.