stay warm this winter

Everyone wants to keep warm this winter. But the challenge is to manage your energy use to avoid having to pay too much on your next energy account. To help keep you snug and cosy through winter, Country Energy has the following advice on how to keep warm but also minimise the costs.

The first step is to know how much your heating is actually costing you. Listed below is a table that estimates how much your electric heating costs each hour it is on. By remembering to turn off your heater or by using a timer you will see how you can start saving straight away.

Appliance

Average watts

Estimated hourly cost

Oil filled column heater	1000 1500 2000 2400	$0.12 $0.18 $0.24 $0.29
Radiator/Portable fan	600 1000 1200 1500 2400	$0.07 $0.12 $0.14 $0.18 $0.29
Space heating	3600 4500 6000 7000	$0.43 $0.54 $0.72 $0.84

* for our calculations we used a rate of $0.12 cents per KWh

The next step is to follow our warming tips and keep warm this winter.

heating

• Draw the curtains at night to keep the warm air in and the cold air out
• Keep doors and windows closed to seal off draughts. Don’t heat any areas you are not using. Use draught “snakes” along doors to keep out cold air
• Turn off heaters when you don’t need them or are not home
• Try a lower heat setting on your heater, or even a thermostat–controlled heater, but make sure that it is bigger enough to do the job properly. A heater that is too small is unlikely to reach a comfortable temperature, making running costs high without providing adequate heating
• When alone, try to use a personal heater rather than heating the entire room
• Try to keep warmer by wearing more clothing instead of turning up the heat

hot water

• Insulate the first couple of metres of outlet pipes from your hot water cylinder
• Showers generally use more hot water than baths
• Filling jugs and kettles from the hot water tap does not save energy, in fact it uses even more

electric blankets

• Keep your blanket flat when stored. Do not fold where the wires run through, roll if necessary
• Don’t leave the blanket on when no one is home
• Switch it off when you get into bed
• Have your electric blanket checked regularly to make sure it is in good working order

Country Energy is proud to be your local energy supplier and wishes you a warm winter.

For information on your appliances energy costs, download our Energy Wise Guide.

For information on your appliances energy costs, download our Energy Wise Guide.