Heating and Cooling

Saving with heating and cooling

Summer or winter, a few simple changes will help you reduce your energy bills.

Don't overheat. The temperature of a heated room in winter should be 18-21 degrees.
Your gas heater will work more efficiently if you stick to the manufacturer's recommended clearance spaces.
Gas heaters are cheaper to run and generate lower greenhouse gas emissions than electric heaters.
Seek advice to help you choose the right size gas heater for the area you want to heat.
Close doors and only heat the main living areas.
Warm up with a jumper or rug (or cuddles) instead of turning up your heater.
Window coverings halve winter heat loss.
Draft excluders across the bottom of doors really work.
If your home has adjustable louvres, tilt them to draw warmth towards the floor (hot air rises).

The temperature of a cooled room in summer should be about 23-26 degrees. (Humidity indoors will be low, so it will actually feel cooler.)
Frequent changes in thermostat settings will increase operating costs.
Set air-conditioning to recirculate cool air instead of pulling warmer air in from outside.
Clean the filter on your air-conditioning unit every three months.
If the unit has adjustable louvres, adjust them towards the ceiling when cooling (cool air sinks).
Choose an air-conditioner with an inverter drive. It will be more energy efficient, and therefore more cost effective.
Ceiling fans are the most energy efficient form of cooling. They are relatively cheap to buy, cheap to run, quiet to operate and suitable for every room.
Close curtains over glass areas. This keeps the warmth out and the cool in - and the reverse in winter.
External sun blinds will prevent summer heat through windows.

Wall and ceiling insulation will keep the heat in and the cold out in winter - and works just as effectively in reverse in summer.
Good insulation can make your home up to seven degrees warmer in winter and ten degrees cooler in summer.
Draughts can increase heating by up to 25%.
Minimise heat loss in winter and help trap cool air in summer by repairing faulty door seals, hanging heavy curtains that fit close to the window frames and laying rugs on bare floors.