SummerWise - Transcript
Nobody wants to get burnt with costly energy bills this summer – so here are 4
things you can do to stay cool and comfortable – and save money…
Use external shading to keep the sun off your windows. For north-facing windows
use horizontal shading like eaves, pergolas or horizontal awnings – they’ll keep the
high angled summer sun out, while letting the lower angled winter sun in.
For east and west facing windows use vertical shading like blinds, awnings or
shutters – and make sure you keep your curtains closed during the day.
The best way to stop heat getting into your home is through proper insulation.
To work out the right insulation for each area of a house we use an ‘R value’ – a
measure of the material’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R value – the
greater the insulating effect, and the bigger the savings.
The most important part of your home to insulate is the ceiling – your roof is a major
source of heat entry in summer.. In Victoria the minimum recommended level of
ceiling insulation is R3.5, although you can go up to R5.0
Insulating for comfort in summer also improves your comfort during winter – and
will have a big impact on your heating bills.
And make sure you seal up any cracks or gaps under doors or around windows, to
minimise heat coming in during summer, or warmth escaping in the cooler months..
Using natural ventilation and being smart about how you use your cooling appliances
can have a major effect on your power bills and comfort levels.
Open windows & doors to cool your house down when the temperature drops on
summer evenings or after a cool change.
Use a fan before turning any air conditioning on - and set your thermostat at 24-26
degrees. Every degree lower will up your costs by around 10%!
And if you can, avoid running your air conditioner all night
Consider ceiling or wall mounted fans – they’re a cheap and effective way of cooling
a room during the warmer months.
If you’re planning to buy a cooling system, ask yourself these questions – how big is
the area I need to cool – and how will I find the most energy efficient option?
The best way to make sure you’re getting the right sized unit is to have a full heat
load calculation done by an authorised air conditioner installer in your home.
And use the energy efficiency labels to find out how efficient the appliance will be.
With each extra star on the rating you can save around 10% on running costs.
For more information on keeping cool or choosing energy efficient appliances, head
to our website