Simple changes around the home to help winter energy bills

Winter has arrived. Along with footy on the couch, extra blankets and comforting home-cooked meals comes something a little less welcome: higher energy bills. 

As temperatures drop, it's natural to spend more time indoors, crank up the heating and give the clothes dryer a bit more of a workout. Unfortunately, all that extra comfort could add up when your next bill arrives. 

The good news? You don't need to spend winter huddled under blankets or living in the dark to reduce your energy usage. A few smart changes around the home can help you stay warm and keep your energy under control. 

Let's take a room-by-room tour of some easy winter potential energy-saving wins.

The living room

For many households, the living room is where most of the winter energy use occurs.

When the temperature drops, it's tempting to keep nudging the heating up a few degrees. But those small increases can have a surprising impact on your energy bill.

Try these simple changes:

• Keep heating between 18–20°C 
• Keep the doors closed to rooms you’re not using
• Throw on an extra layer before reaching for the remote or thermostat
• Open curtains during sunny days to let warmth in
• Close curtains before sunset to help keep that warmth indoors during the night

Quick win

If your ceiling fan has a reverse setting, switch it on. Warm air naturally rises, and a ceiling fan can help push it back down where you can actually enjoy it.

Windows and doors

Ever walked past a window or door and felt a chilly breeze? That's a sign your home may be losing heat through draughts.

Even the most efficient heating system has to work harder if warm air is constantly finding its way outdoors and cool air is finding its way indoors.

Draughts can account for up to 25% of winter heat loss, making draft-proofing one of the quickest and most affordable ways to improve your home's comfort and efficiency.

Check for:

• Gaps around windows and doors
• Worn seals and weather stripping
• Draughts under external doors
• Curtains or blinds left open after dark

Quick win

A door snake might not be the most glamorous item in your home, but it can be surprisingly effective. Pair it with closed curtains on cold evenings and you could be helping to keep the warmth where it belongs.

The bathroom

Let's be honest, when it's freezing outside, a long, steaming shower can feel less like a daily routine and more like a life choice.

But heating water is one of the largest contributors to household energy use, accounting for around 15% to 30% of energy consumption in many Australian homes.

Easy ways to save:

• Keep showers a little shorter than usual
• Fix dripping hot-water taps
• Avoid unnecessarily high water temperatures
• Consider water-efficient shower fittings when it's time for an upgrade

Quick win

Try shaving just a couple of minutes off each shower. It might not seem like much, but it could make a difference.

The kitchen

The kitchen might not have the biggest energy users in the house, but it's full of appliances that get a daily workout.

The good news is that small improvements can make a difference over time.

Try these habits:

• Cook with lids on pots and pans to stop the heat escaping
• Run your dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded
• Check that your fridge and freezer seals are in good condition
• Use energy efficient appliances such as microwaves when heating food

Quick win

The kettle is a classic culprit. Heating four cups of water when you only need one is a surprisingly common energy habit. Only heat enough water for the drinks you’re going to make at that time. 

The laundry

Winter and clothes dryers tend to go hand in hand.

But dryers are also among the more energy-hungry appliances in many homes.

Smarter laundry habits:

• Wash full loads where possible
• Use cold-water wash cycles
• Make use of sunny winter days to air dry clothes
• Clean dryer lint filters regularly
• Use the eco settings on your washer and dryer

Quick win

Even drying clothes on a rack indoors for a few hours before using the dryer can help reduce drying time.

Your clothes dryer still does the job, it just has less work to do.

The whole home

After you've made a few changes around the house, it can be helpful to keep an eye on your usage and see what's making a difference.

Reviewing your energy use regularly can help you:

• Spot unusual spikes in daily usage
• Understand how seasonal changes affect your energy bill
• Identify habits that could be causing you to use more energy than expected
• Track the progress of your energy saving journey over time

If you'd like a clearer picture of your household consumption, tools such as the MyENGIE app and Energy Tracker can help monitor usage patterns and keep you informed throughout winter.

Aside from the colder weather, there are many other reasons energy bills go up and down. From meter read types to working from home, our troubleshooting checklist can help you understand why your bill may have changed.

The bottom line

Whether it's closing a curtain, shortening a shower, or turning your heater down, small changes throughout your home can help you reduce overall energy costs throughout the winter season.