We’ve compiled a list of considerations you can make when heating your home. These include design tips, saving energy in your home and selecting energy efficient products.

Energy efficient design tips
Energy efficient design and construction will help you save substantially on your heating bills as well as being kind to the environment. The beauty is it costs no more than standard construction. Here we identify key design elements:
•    Maximise the amount of winter sunshine available – place living areas on the northern side of your home with windows that make the most of the winter sun and can be shaded to reflect summer’s harsh rays.
•    Create zones that allow you to heat only sections of your home. Create zones using doors or screens.
•    Position rooms that use hot water together (kitchen, bathroom, laundry) to reduce heat loss in pipes.
•    Avoid large, open-plan areas and high ceilings. Maximum ceiling height should be 2.7 metres.
•    Good insulation – insulation prevents heat entering or escaping through the roof, walls or floor.

What can I do in my existing home?
There is a long list of things you can do in your existing home to ensure it’s heated in an energy efficient manner. They include:
•    Keep heat in by fitting heavy blinds or curtains to windows
•    Open curtains on north-facing windows when the sun is shining – this is free natural heat
•    Draught-proof your home – draughts can increase your heating bill by up to 25 per cent. It can be as simple as having door snakes on hand and remembering to shut windows and doors.
•    Use the right-sized heater – if you are using a small heater to heat a large area your running costs will be high and you still won’t create adequate heat. Alternatively, if you have central heating and use it only in one room you are wasting energy.
•    Reduce the heating space - zone off unused rooms by hanging curtains or closing doors.
•    If you are cold, why not put a jumper on rather than turning up the heat?
•    Don’t overheat your home – the average temperature of a home in winter should be 18-21 degrees
•    Don’t leave your heating on low while you are away or asleep – it’s actually cheaper and more efficient to have it switched off at these times and on high when you are around.
•    Use ceiling fans to circulate heat

How do I choose energy efficient products?
The above advice is void if you fail to use energy efficient products. Here’s what to look out for:
Insulation: Insulation prevents heat escaping through the ceiling, walls and floors. When shopping for insulation it is important to buy the correct standard insulation for your climate, which should be available from the retailer. Insulation made from natural materials such as wool and cellulose fibre is better from an environmentally sustainable point of view.
Windows: Windows are pivotal to the overall energy efficiency of a home. It’s essential to do your research as up to 40 per cent of heat loss occurs via windows.
Energy source: You have the option of electricity, gas, wood, coal and solar energy to heat your home. Natural gas is better for the environment than electricity but some neighbourhoods may not have access to it. Contact your electricity provider as some offer green options that utilise wind, solar and other renewable resources.
Heating system: You need to choose the appropriate heating system for your home. You will need to consider, the size of the area you would like to heat, the fuel type and then the heating type.