Energy saving hacks that every Aussie needs to know ahead of winter

As Australians continue to weather an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, energy retailers predict prices will rise as the mercury begins to fall across much of the country.

Resilient and crafty Aussies have passed on their favorite tips and tricks, some more commonplace than others, in an effort to help others save some money during the colder months.

This comes after Australia’s energy regulator (AER) released its draft default bid in March, predicting electricity prices to rise by as much as 30 percent in some states.

AER chairman Clare Savage said prices could have risen by as much as 50 percent had the government not stepped in to contain them.

Prices in Victoria, which have their own price cap, will rise about 30 percent from July 1, meaning the average household bill will increase from $1,403 to $1,829 annually.

Increases in wholesale costs have been attributed to the increase in energy prices, largely due to global gas shortages due to the war in Ukraine.

However, the end of La Nina has brought good news this winter: less rain is expected than last year and much of the country is returning to normal or above-average winter temperatures.

Either way, average minimum winter temperatures for the southeastern parts of the country normally range from 0 to 9C, meaning many will still be forced to find ways to beat the cold.

Young Australians, who have felt the cost of living more than any other demographic, are perhaps the smartest when it comes to tightening their wallets during the colder months.

Iona Grace, 25, lives in an uninsulated apartment in Surry Hills, Sydney, with her boyfriend Doug.

Without thick glass or curtains, Mrs. Grace tends to dress in layers when the mercury dips, turning into a space heater when “things are dire.”

When the forecast is particularly bleak, Mrs. Grace reaches for a hot drink and a jumpsuit for a sleeping bag she bought at the Aldi for a reasonable price.

Despite studying and living in Canberra, where nighttime temperatures dropped to -7C, Mrs Grace rarely touched the central heating.

“When I had central heating I never used it, it just wasn’t cost effective, especially if the house is bigger and not well insulated, you’re never going to retain that heat,” she said.

“It turned out to be best to have separate small heaters in each room because we could just heat where people were.”

While a well-insulated home is one of the best ways to fight frost, insulating walls and ceilings can be a time-consuming process and not an option for many renters.

Temporary and inexpensive hacks to better insulate homes include sealing windows and doors with weather stripping, door sweeping, or door hoses to keep out drafts.

Laying down carpets on hard floors and using thick or thermal curtains also makes a difference, while some savvy Facebook users have vowed to stick bubble wrap on windows.

Others have recommended using a drying rack to dry garments before the heater, and placing a larger garment furthest from the heater to trap and circulate the hot air better, helping clothes dry more quickly.

The installation and running costs of different types of heaters have been compared by Choice Australia who found that reverse cycle air conditioners are always the cheapest option in the long run.

This is because they produce much more heat for the electricity they use compared to other heaters.

With an initial cost of $1273, not including installation costs, these baddies cost a reasonable $163 to run each winter.

Of course, this option may not be suitable for people who are unable to pay a large amount in advance or for tenants.

In such cases where one has to turn to portable heating solutions, oil column heaters win out as the least expensive, costing little up front but up to $300 to run over the winter.

They are also safer than stoves, which are responsible for more than 40 percent of all home heating-related fires, although modern versions are much safer than earlier ones.

The advantage of portable heaters is that they are ideal for heating individual rooms in situations where few people are around, eliminating the need to heat the whole house.

Alternatively, heated blankets can be fantastic and inexpensive alternatives if you’re sitting or lying down, and they typically cost around $10 when used every night in the winter.

If Aussies use an air conditioner, it is advised to aim for an 8C difference between their air conditioning and the outside temperature for ‘optimum heat at a lower cost’.

“Avoid constantly heating your air conditioner to a higher temperature, it doesn’t work and even wastes more money,” said a Choice Australia TikToker.

“The harder the air conditioner works to heat the room, the more electricity it uses.”

Putting a ceiling fan on the reverse setting also allows you to get more out of a convection heater, as it redistributes heat evenly so it doesn’t hover directly over the heater.

Regardless of the heating option you choose, you should only use it in the required areas for as long as necessary and should not increase the temperature more than necessary.

Ms. Grace also urged thrifty introverts to overcome their fears and spend more time with family members or roommates.

“When I had roommates, we all sat in the same room together, so we could heat one space, and having others around made it warmer, temperature-wise and emotionally.”

Mrs. Grace also turns to her partner as a heat source.

“I cuddle up to my friend Doug at night, but he has really cold feet, so he keeps those away from me because he knows what’s good for him,” she said.

“But I’ll put my cold feet and hands on him.”

In March, it was revealed that Australian households in four states will face sharp increases in electricity prices in the coming months as the country’s energy regulator flags rise to 31 percent.

Victorians will see their bills rise by nearly a third, while NSW, Queensland and South Australia will also see steep increases.

Australia’s energy regulator on Wednesday released its draft standard market offering – essentially the maximum price that energy retailers can charge residential and small business customers – for the 2023/24 financial year.

Victoria’s Essential Services Commission did the same for that state, signaling a 30 percent increase in electricity prices for households and 31 percent for small businesses.

This would increase a typical household bill from $1,403 to $1,829 per year, while small businesses could expect an increase from $5,620 to about $7,358.