Simple ways to help lower your energy bills

Here are some simple things you can do to save money on energy bills while making your home warmer and healthier.

Keep your home warm

Heat is expensive, so save money by keeping the cold air out and the warm air in.

Windows and doors

● Draw curtains at dusk - to keep the day’s heat in. The best curtains have a separate lining and are fitted close to the window, wide enough to generously overlap the window frames at the sides and long enough to touch the floor. A pelmet at the top is even better.

● Consider DIY window insulation kits - which can cut heat loss through windows by half and are a fraction of the cost of double-glazing.

● Stop draughts - make sure your windows and doors fit their frames. Use draught stopping tape around windows and doors and draught excluders or door snakes along the bottom of doors.

A lot of your home’s heat can escape through windows, especially if you already have well insulated ceilings, floors and walls.

One way to minimise this heat loss is by providing insulation for your windows.

Double glazing

Double glazing is a way of creating an insulating gas layer either normal air or special heavy gases - between two panes of glass.

It lets in as much sunlight as single-glazed windows, but is better at holding in heat. Double glazing is standard in most new houses but it’s also worth installing in existing homes if your existing windows require substantial repairs or replacing. If you need to prioritise, install double glazing to the main heated areas of the house as well as to large windows.

Retrofit alternatives to double glazing

If you have an older home, you may be able to upgrade your windows without completely replacing them with new double glazed units. This will depend on the type and condition of your existing single glazed windows. Secondary glazing works by forming a sealed, insulating air gap on the inside of existing, single glazed windows. To work properly, there should be at least 1 cm between the existing and secondary glass.

DIY window insulation kits

Window insulation film works on the same principle as standard double glazing by creating a layer of still air in front of the glass that acts as insulation. You attach it to the window sash or wooden window frames, and not directly onto the glass pane itself.

Low-E window film

Low-E film (low-emissivity film) is a thin polyester film with a micro-thin, transparent metal coating. It is stuck directly to your existing glass to reflect radiant heat - either from outside or inside - which reduces the amount of energy you need to heat or cool your home.

Curtains and blinds

Well-installed curtains can help to reduce heat loss through your windows, provided they are installed without gaps that allow air movement between the window and the room.

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Open curtains and blinds during the day and close them just before it gets dark to allow your house to gain heat from the sun during the day, and better retain it overnight. In summer, close curtains and blinds on the side facing the sun and open windows to help keep your home cool.

Heating

● Turn your heaters off when you don’t need them - rather than leaving them on when you’re not there, this includes your heat pump.

● Set your heater thermostat - aim for 18 to 20˚C.

● Many heaters are only big enough to heat one room - so close doors and in the evening pull curtains.

● Use a heater directly in the room you want to heat - and keep the door shut (unless you have central heating).

Keep your home dry: Get rid of moisture and dampness in your home, especially when you’re cooking and washing.

Outside: Fix any broken or leaking pipes, and clear and fix gutters.

Clear vents - check the outside of the house to make sure all underfloor vents are clear of plants or other blockages. This helps to move damp air out from under your house.

Inside: Cooking, showering and washing - all introduce moisture to your home. The best way to get rid of this moisture is with externally vented extraction fans. If you don’t have these, open windows during or after cooking, showering and washing up. Dry clothes outside or in a clothes dryer that is vented to outside - try not to use indoors airing racks or clothes dryers that vent into your house. The moisture in the clothes will end up in your home.

Air your home - open windows and doors a few times a day to air the house and let moisture escape, even in winter. Don’t forget to open wardrobe and cupboard doors.

Ventilate your bedroom sleeping with your bedroom window open a crack lets out the moisture that naturally builds up over the night.

Air your bedding - especially in winter. Duvets, pillows, and other heavy bedding absorbs moisture over time, so air them outdoors when it’s sunny.

Avoid unflued gas heaters which release toxic fumes and make your house damp. Cheap portable electric heaters are safer and cost less to run.

Save on lighting

● Lighting is one of the easiest places you can save energy around your house.

● Turn lights off when you’re not using them.

● Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LEDs - and save $100 or more a year on electricity in your house.

Energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest ways of saving on your power bills. There is plenty of choice so you can get the look and style you want. Whilst energy efficient lights can cost a bit more upfront than traditional incandescent or halogen lights, over their life the energy savings make up for that many times over and you can also expect them to last much longer.

Save on hot water

● Heating water is expensive, so using less hot water has a big impact on your energy bills.

● Use an efficient showerhead - it still gives you a great shower, but uses much less water.

To check the flow rate of your shower, put a 10 litre bucket under the shower - if it fills in less than a minute at normal showering temperature, your showerhead is wasting water. An efficient showerhead has a flow rate of 9 litres per minute, or less.

● Reduce shower time - a 15 minute shower costs around $1, a 5 minute shower around 33c. A family of 4 could be saving around $18 a week just by taking shorter showers. That’s $900 a year.

● Use cold washes - unless you have an especially dirty load. Modern washing machines and detergents clean well using cold water. A hot water wash can use 10 times more electricity than a cold wash. Whatever hot

water system you have, there are easy ways to reduce your energy bills. It isn’t just about energy savings - if your water is metered, every litre you save is saving you money. Save on appliances

Standby power: Appliances left on standby can cost you more than $100 a year on your power bills.

Plug them all into multi-plug boards so they can all be turned off properly at the same time. Turn off other appliances like whiteware at the wall too.

Heated towel rails: If you have a heated towel rail, only use it when needed. You can buy timers for towel rails that come on automatically at certain times of the day.

Fridges: If you have a second fridge only to chill a few drinks, it could cost you $200 a year to run if it’s an old, inefficient model. Consider turning it off or getting rid of it.

Check your fridge door seals if the door doesn’t seal properly, your fridge will use more energy than it needs to. Fridges and freezers:

Depending on the model you choose, the running cost of a new fridge/freezer over a 10 year period could be between $600 and $2,000, so it’s important to consider more than the upfront cost of the product.

For more information on Energy Efficiency in the home and tips to make your home warmer while savying money on your energy bills, sign up for Energywise news.

Visit https://www.energywise.govt.nz/at-home/simpleways-to-lower-energy-bills/