Budget for a warmer winter
WHEN I complained of being cold as a youngster, I was often met with the reply “well, put on a jumper then”.
When winter rolled around, our family delayed the use of our old heater for as long as possible, because back in those days, appliances were less efficient and could add significantly to the household bills when used too often.
Of course, living in coastal Australia, you were never in danger of freezing to death.
On the occasions the temperature plummeted below 15C, a jumper and some tracksuit pants could solve most of your troubles.
These days, however, appliances have changed and you can tailor their usage to your needs without blowing the budget.
1 KEEP THE HEAT IN First things first, if you are going to use heating appliances, secure any nooks and crannies that might allow cold air in. There is no point cranking up the heat if an icy wind is coming in through the screen door and the warm air is escaping through a slightly open window.
2 USE AIRCONDITIONERS OVER HEATERS Reverse cycle airconditioners are economical to run and “over 300 per cent efficient”, according to Adrian Brown of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
“This means one unit of energy in produces more than three units of energy out,” Mr Brown said, where “energy in” meant electricity and “energy out” meant heat. “It’s like running three electrical strip heaters but only paying for the electricity of one.”
3 USE TIMERS, APPS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY Modern heaters and other appliances have timers or can be operated remotely. Use smartphone apps to make sure they are not operating when not needed.
4 UPDATE OLD APPLIANCES If you are unable to use technology because your appliances are decades old, it might be time to bid farewell to “old faithful” and purchase a newer model.
The initial outlay will come back to you in efficiency savings and you will also find that many modern appliances are less harmful to the environment.
5 GO OFF- PEAK The winter weather can at times make the backyard Hills hoist redundant and force you to go for the clothes dryer.
This is costly if overused and one way to save money is to try and use it during offpeak times, generally between 10pm and 7am, to minimise the damage.
6 CREATE A WARM FEEL Clever interior design tricks can help create the illusion of warmth in a home during winter.
Contents International Design interiors expert Andrew Algar recommends warmer shades such as brown and navy, plus heavier fabrics such as velvet for throws, rugs, pillows and curtains.