Get ready for winter with these energy saving tips

We all love a warm and cosy home during the chilly winter months.

The good news is that there are ways to reduce your energy costs over winter while still keeping your home warm, comfy and healthy. We’ve rounded up six simple tips to get your home ready for winter and save on your power bill.

1. Check your insulation

It’s no secret that good insulation is one of the most effective ways to keep the cold away. In the average uninsulated home, you lose about 35 percent of heat through the ceiling, 25 percent through the walls and 15 percent through the floors. A well-insulated home is warmer, cheaper to heat and healthier as it reduces the risk of developing mould, mildew and dust mites.

Not sure if your insulation’s up to scratch? Now’s the time to check. While it’s definitely easier to install insulation when you’re building a new home or during renovations when your walls and ceilings are exposed, it’s also possible to retrofit insulation into an existing property - it’s just a bit trickier. Ceilings and floors are a good place to start as they’re typically easier to access than your walls.

Insulation comes in many different forms, each with its own pros, cons and price point. Check out this handy Smart Homes guide for more information on insulation materials.

2. Upgrade your curtains

Glass is a terrible insulator, which is why your windows are usually the biggest source of heat loss in the home. In fact, an uninsulated house loses a whopping 45 percent of its heat through its windows!

An easy way to combat this heat loss is to invest in some decent curtains. Curtains essentially act as an extra layer of insulation for your windows, helping to trap warm air in while blocking out the cold air. Heavy lined curtains (which have an added lining layer on the back of the curtain) and thermal curtains (which have a plastic coating bonded to the fabric) will be your best bet.

Close the curtains when the sun goes down to keep the heat in and open them during the day to let the sunlight in and warm your home.

3. Tackle condensation

The damper your home is, the harder it is to keep you warm - and the more energy you’re going to spend on heating. Water that’s left to collect on windows and walls can also lead to mould, which can impact the health and wellbeing of your family.

This winter, take a proactive approach to condensation and think about ways you can keep your home dry. Keep moisture levels down by opening a window or two during the daytime to allow air to circulate. When you’re cooking or taking a shower, use an extractor fan to remove moisture, and hang your laundry outside or in the garage instead of in your indoor living areas.

4. Maintain your heat pumps

Over time, dust, dirt, and other contaminants build up in the filters of your heat pump. As grime accumulates, your heat pump has to work harder to heat the room to the specified temperature, which impacts its energy efficiency. And if the filters are clogged, dust and allergens are left to circulate in your home, which can impact air quality.

Your heat pump is going to get a good workout over winter, so now’s the perfect time to give it some TLC. Gently open the front panel of your heat pump, remove the filters and give them a wipe with a damp soft cloth. Pat dry with a soft towel or leave them to dry in the shade before reinserting them and reassembling the pump.

To save even more money on power, turn off your heat pumps when they’re not in use and keep your internal doors closed to make the space you’re heating smaller and easier to heat.

5. Turn off your appliances when you’re not using them

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer, but turning off your appliances when you’re not using them really can have a surprisingly big impact on your power bill.

For example, it costs about 50 cents a day to power a heated towel rail, which works out to be $45 if you were to leave it running all winter. Similarly, a dehumidifier - often your best ally when it comes to combating moisture - costs around $2.50 to run over a 24-hour period - that’s about $225 if you were to keep it running all winter!

The key takeaway here is simple: turn your appliances, devices and other electronics off when you’re not using them. You can squeeze out some further power savings by turning your appliances off at the wall, too!

6. Invest in some warm blankets

Last but not least, take the edge off the chill this winter by investing in some more blankets. Snuggling up under a chunky knit throw is a great way to stay cosy through the cold months (although you’ll still want to put the heater on when it gets particularly chilly!).

Make the switch to Pulse Energy and save

Looking for even more ways to save on power this winter? Maybe it’s time to think about making the switch to Pulse Energy. With competitive rates, low upfront prices and no long-term contracts, we’re the provider of choice when it comes to affordable energy in Aotearoa.

Give us a call today on 0800 785 733 or fill out our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.