Heating and cooling your home with appliances can use large amounts of energy and significantly add to your energy bills.
There are many things you can do to improve the effectiveness of heating and cooling appliances, minimising your home’s energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
This could also reduce the size of the heating and cooling appliance you need and the amount of time you run it for.
When choosing an energy efficient heating appliance or energy efficient cooling appliance make sure you select the most appropriate type for your situation and use it efficiently. |  |
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Free natural heating and cooling
Shading
Zoning - heating and cooling the smallest area
Keeping hot or cold air in your home
Dressing for the weather
Free natural heating and cooling
Natural heating using the sun
The cheapest form of heating comes from the sun. Use natural heating where possible to warm your home, this is known as passive heating.
In winter, open curtains or blinds on north facing windows to allow the winter sun into your home.
Find out what you can do to
maximise passive heating when building or renovating a home.
Natural cooling using cool breezes
Air movement is an important part of natural or passive cooling. Allowing a cool breeze to pass through your home can help to cool the building and its occupants.
If you use a reverse cycle air conditioner close doors and windows once you turn the appliance on to keep cool air inside.
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Shading
In summer, shade north, east and west facing windows with external blinds, pergolas or trees to keep sunlight off your windows and prevent the heat from entering your home.
Every square metre of unshaded glass can let in as much radiant heat as a single bar electric radiator.
Find out more about shading your home.
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Zoning - heating or cooling the smallest area
The smaller the area, the less energy is required to heat or cool it.
If possible close doors between rooms so that you are heating or cooling the smallest possible area.
If you have a ducted system it may already be divided into zones - try to ensure you are only heating or cooling areas that are being used.
Heating or cooling unused rooms in your home can be expensive and is unnecessary.
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Keeping hot or cold air in your home
Avoid wasted energy by ensuring heated or cooled air can't escape from your home.
Insulation
Install insulation to slow the rate of heat transfer through walls and ceilings.
Draught proofing
Draught proof gaps or cracks in your walls or windows, below doors and in unused fireplaces, air ducts or vents.
Curtains and pelmets
Close curtains and install pelmets to prevent your heated or cooled air from coming into contact with glass. Covering the top of the curtains with a pelmet will help to stop the airflow between the windows and curtain.
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Dressing for the weather
Every 1°C adds 10% to the running costs of your heating or cooling appliance.
Wearing appropriate clothing such as a jumper in winter will allow you to set your thermostat to a lower temperature, reducing your energy use and minimising your bills.
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More information
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Designing an energy efficient home