Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson is encouraging householders to think smart about ways to keep warm and save money this winter.

“It can be expensive to keep warm when the mercury drops, but there are ways that households can save on energy costs without sacrificing comfort,” Mr Wilson said.

“Simple tips such as closing your curtains, checking for draughts, blocking gaps or cracks to stop heat loss and rugging up against the cold can make a huge difference.

"It's important to ensure your home is well insulated. The right type of insulation, especially in the ceiling, and weather stripping around windows and doors can cut heating costs by up to 45 percent.

“Poorly insulated homes lose heat much faster than insulated ones.

“Concentrate your heating in a few rooms that get a lot of use, such as the living room and the kitchen and spend your time in those comfort spaces.

“Bedrooms don’t usually need heating because extra blankets will keep you warm while you’re sleeping," he said.

Mr Wilson said it was important to consider all the options before buying a heater.

“Bar radiators are good for instant heat directed at concentrated areas, but may not be suited to heating entire rooms.

“Heaters with thermostats need to match the size of the area to be heated,” he said.

“Efficient models switch on and off at intervals as needed to maintain a set temperature. If they’re too small for the room, they’ll run constantly and cost more money.

“The heating cycle of reverse cycle air conditioners can cost about half as much to operate as radiators, fan heaters and oil-filled heaters.

“Even on the coldest day, they work by drawing the heat from the outside air and transferring it inside," he said.

“A jump in the power bill in the winter months can come as quite a surprise to many people, but there are ways to keep costs down. They’re simple tips, but they do work,” he said.

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