10 tips to save money on heating & cooling at home

Take advantage of the shade on a sunny day with the help of fully automated blinds and awnings or learn how to make the most of your air conditioner with a few useful tips here.

HEATING

Lower your thermostat temperature

The daily temperature on your thermostat can have a significant impact on your energy bills. A quick tip is to set different temperatures for certain times of the day. For example, at night or when the family is away, schedule a setting at a lower temperature. During the day, set the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature to save as much as 3% on your energy bill for each degree reduced.

Get help from the Sun

Let Mother Nature do all of the work. On a sunny day, leave your window shades and blinds open to let the warm rays of the sun inside the home. Use your Connexoon Window RTS to schedule opening all of the blinds at once during the day, and lowering them automatically before the sun goes down to keep the warmth in.

Cover the open floors

If the home has little floor insulation, use carpets and rugs in different rooms to help save on energy bills. They add to heat retention as well as making your home comfortable.

Replace the filters  

Keep your heating system running at the optimum efficiency by regularly replacing the filters. For most heating systems, you only need to replace the filters about once a month.

Avoid portable heaters  

Portable heaters can be very convenient for heating up a specific part of a home, but running them all day with the kind of power they demand can add up on your energy bill down the line.

COOLING

Close your exterior doors and windows

The energy used by the air conditioner often accounts for most of the cost on the energy bills. Therefore, it is important that the AC runs smoothly and does not spend more energy than it should. An easy trick is to make sure that all of the exterior doors and windows are tightly closed. Check for leaks around the house to make sure no air is escaping.

Decorate with cooler tones

Using light-colored paint or curtains throughout the house helps to reflect heat. The light colored curtains will block most of the sun’s rays, while still letting light enter a room.

Take advantage of ceiling fans

Surprisingly, a ceiling fan only uses about as much electricity as a standard lightbulb would. The trick to remember is that ceiling fans will help keep people in the room cool but not a room itself. So, it is important to turn it off once the room is empty. The breeze from a ceiling fan can keep you cooler by a few degrees, allowing you to save some money and be comfortable even if you raise the thermostat temperature by a few degrees.

Enjoy the shade 

The temperature difference in Australia between being in the shade and being out in the sun is drastic. Take advantage of that with a Somfy-motorised awning, allowing you to stay cool outdoors on a sunny day.

Let the air flow   

To cool a home efficiently, it is important for the air to be able to move freely throughout the house. Open all of the interior doors and windows to create an air flow for a well-ventilated home.

If you are interested in a Somfy solution for your home, obtain a quote today!