Winter Heating Guide Includes Ways to Reduce Heating Costs and Provides Advice on Choosing the Right Heater to Suit Your Needs

Home , Convection heater

Winter heating This winter heating guide includes ways to reduce heating costs and provides advice on choosing the right heater to suit your needs. Fuel for thought – Choosing the right heating system for you

Average household energy use*

Heating and cooling costs account for around a quarter of the average household’s energy use, so it makes sense to carefully consider heating Did you know? options. Efficient heating saves energy, money, and the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Other 3% A simple way to reduce your Lifestyle appliances 4% heating costs is to ensure Standby 6% Hot water 37% that you are not overheating your home. Lights 9% Use a room thermometer to keep your room heated to 18 to 21 degrees in winter. Kitchen appliances 9% In summer, keep the room temperature at around Washing 23 to 26 degrees. and drying 3%

Refrigeration 7% Heating and cooling 22%

* Average household energy usage is based on a typical 3-person household in Sydney with all electric appliances, How big a space? How often will you run it? a 500 litre fridge, reverse cycle air conditioning, clothes dryer, dishwasher and halogen lamps. Hot water usage is Do you want enough heat option such as a high star rated If you’ll be using it regularly, based on a 7 minute shower per person per day with a standard showerhead on an off peak tariff. Actual energy consumption will vary depending on appliance usage, model and type. for one person, a large room, gas heater or reverse cycle air it’s probably best to spend more or the whole house? conditioner. It’s a good idea to initially on a gas heater or a reverse get expert advice on choosing cycle air conditioner and take What type of fuel Portable electric heaters like bar the right size heater for the advantage of the lower radiators or fan heaters are cheap area you want to heat. running costs. to buy but costly to run. They’re best for personal heating or small If you choose central (or ducted) Portable electric heaters have rooms like a home office. heating for your whole house, make the lowest purchase price, however Natural Gas Electricity Solid Fuel sure the system can be zoned so they cost more to run. If you plan to Very efficient for The most expensive Firewood is an efficient Heating larger living areas you heat only the rooms you are leave a heater running unattended, heating and emits and greenhouse option when used requires more energy, so it’s using rather than the entire house. such as in kids’ bedrooms, oil-filled around a third of the intensive option and in slow-combustion important to choose an efficient column heaters are a safer option. greenhouse gas of therefore requires heaters, however open electricity from coal. careful consideration fires lose up to 90 to ensure efficient use. per cent of their heat straight up the chimney. A guide to heating options

Electric heating Gas heating Firewood Portable heaters Underfloor or in-slab heating Air conditioners Types: Unflued radiant and Types: Open fires and slow Types: Radiant, fan, convection Underfloor heating can be costly Types: Window/wall, split convection heaters and flued combustion wood heaters. and oil-filled column heaters. to run and has high greenhouse system and ducted (central) convection and ducted heating. emissions for the amount of heat air conditioning. Open fires look great but they are Portable heaters, although cheap produced. Consider installing a Gas heating emits around inefficient with up to 90 per cent of to buy when compared with timer and thermostat to reduce Reverse cycle air conditioning is one-third of the greenhouse gas heat being lost up the chimney. permanent or fixed heaters, can be running costs. one of the most efficient ways emissions of portable electric relatively expensive to run. of heating rooms. They can be heaters. Although the upfront With open fire air pollution It may be possible to pre-heat sized for a small room, a large cost of gas heaters is higher than problems and safety issues, it the floor in lower priced shoulder living area or a whole home and portable electric heaters, the might be worth considering a slow or off peak periods if you are on generally include a programmable running costs are significantly combustion wood heater, especially time–based pricing. thermostat and timer. cheaper, saving you money in a city area. It’s up to six times in the long run. more efficient than an open This heating is usually most While the upfront cost may be high, fireplace and can be used to heat appropriate for new homes or if the system is zoned, you can heat Unflued gas heaters are less large living areas. extensions because it may need to the space you require efficiently expensive than flued gas heaters be installed before the concrete and quickly. They are energy star but they require room ventilation. slab or flooring is laid. rated so it’s easy to choose an They cannot be used in bedrooms efficient model. or bathrooms and may cause respiratory irritation for some people.

Reaching for the stars

By choosing an energy efficient heater, you can save money and If chosen for the right purpose reduce greenhouse gas emissions. and used carefully, portable heaters Gas heaters and reverse cycle air can be a useful solution for your conditioners have energy rating home. They work most efficiently labels. Use the labels to compare when used to heat a person or a products and then choose the most small area for short periods of time. efficient model you can afford.

The dollars and sense of heat

Evaulate heating Hold in the heat options for your home Overheating your home in A lot of heat can be lost through Insulating a home can be an easy Choosing the right heater is all A reverse cycle air conditioner is winter can increase electricity windows so it is important when way to keep warm in winter. about being comfortable in your one of the most efficient options and gas bills. You can keep your heating to cover windows by closing home at minimum cost. You for heating houses without gas, Installing ceiling insulation can heating costs lower by following blinds or curtains. want it to be the right size, the and is well suited for heating slash average heating costs by the HEAT approach. most economical fuel, and the larger rooms. Draught-proofing under doors up to a quarter. An insulated house most efficient type of heater for and around windows is a cheap is warmer in winter and cooler your budget. and easy way to improve the in summer. insulation of your home. Check If natural gas is available, this is Heaters and air conditioners run your local hardware store for a cheap heating option with lower The heat code more efficiently in an insulated draught stoppers, door snakes greenhouse gas emissions. Gas home, reducing greenhouse gas and window sealing tape. heaters can give out more heat emissions and energy bills. Hold in than portable electric heaters, h the heat and they are good for larger rooms and getting to a comfortable temperature more quickly. Look E Evaluate for the highest star rating on gas heaters. Electric heaters (like radiators or a Action fan heaters) are the cheapest to buy but the most expensive to run. They work best if you sit in front Temperature of them for immediate personal t and timers warmth. They’re not the most effective type of heating for a whole room or living area. The dollars and sense of heat

Action to become more Temperature checks energy efficient and timers Other heating tips Central heating can be a good Using a simple timer to heat a option, however it costs more to home only when you are there is • Electric blankets use much heat large areas or a whole house. one of the simplest and most cost- less energy than room It will always be cheaper to heat effective ways to cut heating bills. only the rooms you are using (such Leaving heaters running overnight heaters. Pre-warm your as the living areas) than to heat or when you’re out is a fast way to bed and then switch the an entire house. a high winter energy bill. blanket off when you go Wearing warmer clothes or Programming a timer to turn on to sleep. throwing an extra blanket on the the lounge room heater 20 minutes • Closing doors in the rooms bed can keep heating costs down. before you get up each morning and turning it off 20 minutes you want to heat is one Dressing warmly even when inside before you walk out the door of the easiest ways to cut during the cooler months is an easy will save money and keep you heating costs. way to slash heating costs and is warm. Timers cost less than $20 cheaper than running an electric and can be bought at any hardware • Hot air rises so running heater all day during winter. store or consider a heater with a slow-moving ceiling fans built-in timer. in reverse can be a great way to push the warmth Keeping windows and doors The temperature of a heated room back down to where it is in winter should remain between closed, drawing curtains at night needed, especially if you 18 and 21 degrees. If the room is and turning heaters off when have high ceilings. you go out or to bed will cut at this temperature and you are heating costs. still cold put on another jumper. For every degree above 21 degrees Close the doors to bathrooms that you program a heater, it adds with exhaust fans, as these can roughly 10 per cent extra to your let cold air into a heated home heating costs. and make heaters work harder than they have to. Use this table to compare heating options and choose the best heater for the space you want to heat

Heater Gas Gas Electric Electric Electric Electric Electric Flued gas heater Unflued gas heater* Radiant heater Fan heater Oil-filled Convection heater Reverse cycle Types column heater air conditioner

Pros Cheaper to run than electric heaters. Cheaper to run than electric heaters. Good for giving instant heat. Portable and easy to Portable models can be moved from Cheap upfront cost. Can be sized or zoned for optimal Gas heating has one-third of the greenhouse Delivers more heat than electric heaters, Cheaper to buy. move around. room to room. Can be moved from room to room. efficiency. gas emissions of electric heaters. so warms a room faster. Good for spot heating over short periods Cheaper to buy than gas heaters. Safer than fan and radiant heaters. Fan-assisted models help distribute Generally include a programmable Can be sized for small rooms, large They are energy star rated so it’s easy of time. Good for personal heating or Good to heat kids’ bedrooms. the warm air. thermostat and timer. living areas, or an entire home. to choose an efficient model. small areas like a home office. Many models include timers Many models include timers. They are energy star rated so it’s Choosing an efficient model is easy because Gas heating emits around a third of and thermostats. easy to choose an efficient model. they are energy star rated. greenhouse gas of electric heaters. Can also cool in summer.

Cons Higher upfront cost than portable Unflued models require some room Expensive if used for heating a large room. Expensive to run and can Takes a long time to heat a room. Expensive to run. High upfront cost. electric heaters. ventilation, and may cause irritation for Generally not built with a thermostat, making be noisy. Not suited to large living areas. Can take a long time to heat a room. If the system is not zoned, you may some people. Flued gas heaters are more expensive them more costly to run. Safety concerns if the fan Expensive to buy models with thermostats. Not suited to large living areas. heat more space than is needed. than unflued gas heaters. Not suitable for bedrooms or bathrooms. is covered. Hot to touch, so children must be supervised. Costly to run, especially if left on overnight Window/wall type units can be noisy. Fire safety can be an issue. or when not at home. Purchase price Medium to high Medium to high Low Low Low to medium Low to medium High Estimated Hourly 21 cents Hourly 19 cents Hourly 60 cents Hourly 45 cents Hourly 45 cents Hourly 45 cents Hourly 15 cents heating Weekly $12 Weekly $11 Weekly $34 Weekly $25 Weekly $25 Weekly $25 Weekly $8 Monthly $51 Monthly $46 Monthly $146 Monthly $110 Monthly $110 Monthly $110 Monthly $37 energy costs** (2.4KW heating) Yearly $153 Yearly $138 Yearly $438 Yearly $330 Yearly $330 Yearly $330 Yearly $111 Best area Small to large living room or a whole house Small to medium living room One person One person or a small room Bedroom Small room Small to large room to heat Time it takes Fast Fast Fast Medium Slow Medium Fast to heat up

Heater images kindly provided by Rinnai, De’Longhi and Kambrook.

This brochure is correct at the time of printing and contains general information. You may need to seek professional advice to apply information in the brochure to your particular circumstances. Comparison of heating systems

Can be sized or zoned for optimal Pros Cheaper to run than electric heaters. Cheaper to run than electric heaters. Good for giving instant heat. Portable and easy to Portable models can be moved from Cheap upfront cost. Can be moved from room to room. efficiency. Gas heating has one-third of the greenhouse Delivers more heat than electric heaters, Cheaper to buy. move around. room to room. Fan-assisted models help distribute Generally include a programmable gas emissions of electric heaters. so warms a room faster. Good for spot heating over short periods Cheaper to buy than gas heaters. Safer than fan and radiant heaters. the warm air. thermostat and timer. Can be sized for small rooms, large They are energy star rated so it’s easy of time. Good for personal heating or Good to heat kids’ bedrooms. They are energy star rated so it’s living areas, or an entire home. to choose an efficient model. small areas like a home office. Many models include timers. Many models include timers easy to choose an efficient model. Choosing an efficient model is easy because Gas heating emits around a third of and thermostats. Can also cool in summer. they are energy star rated. greenhouse gas of electric heaters. Cons Higher upfront cost than portable Unflued models require some room Expensive if used for heating a large room. Expensive to run and can Takes a long time to heat a room. Expensive to run. High upfront cost. be noisy. electric heaters. ventilation, and may cause irritation for Generally not built with a thermostat, making Not suited to large living areas. Can take a long time to heat a room. If the system is not zoned, you may Flued gas heaters are more expensive some people. them more costly to run. Safety concerns if the fan Expensive to buy models with thermostats. Not suited to large living areas. heat more space than is needed. is covered. than unflued gas heaters. Not suitable for bedrooms or bathrooms. Hot to touch, so children must be supervised. Costly to run, especially if left on overnight Window/wall type units can be noisy. Fire safety can be an issue. or when not at home. Purchase price Medium to high Medium to high Low Low Low to medium Low to medium High

Estimated Hourly 22 cents Hourly 20 cents Hourly 65 cents Hourly 42 cents Hourly 42 cents Hourly 42 cents Hourly 14 cents heating Weekly $12 Weekly $11 Weekly $36 Weekly $24 Weekly $24 Weekly $24 Weekly $8 energy costs** Monthly $53 Monthly $48 Monthly $157 Monthly $102 Monthly $102 Monthly $102 Monthly $34 (2.4KW heating) Yearly $159 Yearly $144 Yearly $471 Yearly $306 Yearly $306 Yearly $306 Yearly $102

Best area Small to large living room or a whole house Small to medium living room One person One person or a small room Bedroom Small room Small to large room to heat Time it takes Fast Fast Fast Medium Slow Medium Fast to heat up

Note: There is an annual charge of around $250 for having gas connected to your property. *Room should be ventilated when using unflued gas heaters. Not suitable for bedrooms or bathrooms. **Based on average of 8 hrs usage per day per heater for 3 months a year providing a heat output of 2.4kW and cycling on for 70% of the time for thermostat type heaters (i.e. all but radiant heater). Electric appliance running costs are calculated using 25c/kWh which is a typical pay on time market rate offered by major energy retailers for residential customers in the Ausgrid electricity network area from 1 July 2017 (inc GST). Gas appliance running costs are calculated using 2.8c/MJ which is an average pay on time market rate offered by major energy retailers for a typical residential gas customer (20GJ per year) for the Jemena gas network area in NSW from 1 July 2017 (inc GST). Heating 2017/2018 For more information on how to save on your energy bills, visit our website at www.ausgrid.com.au