murraybridge Before you turn on your power-hungry heater this winter, try a more environmentally friendly option to keep your home cosy and warm this winter?
Aspect:
A home with a northerly aspect is easier to keep warm. As the sun moves from east to west, a home that faces north will be easily and cheaply warmed all day.
Doors:
Keep unused rooms closed, and doors to the outside closed too.
Windows:
Keep windows shut to avoid cold drafts.
Blinds:
Open your blinds in the morning, particularly on north-facing windows, to allow in the light and warmth from the sunshine.
Close your blinds as soon as the sun goes down to stop the cold night air from seeping through the windows.
Seals:
Make sure doors and windows are well sealed. If needed, place barriers across the bottom of doors to prevent cold air seeping in underneath.
Hot water bottles:
Hot water bottles are more environmentally friendly than electric blankets.
Insulation:
Insulate your roof. Insulation in the roof is one of the best ways to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
Heating:
If you do need to turn on a heater, close off an area of your home and just heat that area, rather than trying to heat the whole house.
Use a heater with a thermostat that will maintain your home at a constant temperature, or a timer that will only turn the heater on when it’s most needed and automatically turns off when it’s not.
Install solar panels:
Solar panels are the most energy efficient way to heat your home, and are becoming more affordable to install.
