Insulating your home is the single most effective thing you can do to keep your home cooler in summer (and warmer in winter).

Plus save on energy bills. If you can stop heat coming in, you can avoid buying expensive air-conditioning. Take all 6 steps below and you can cut the heat coming into your home by as much as 90%.

After home cooling, the second biggest energy drain in summer is your fridge. For a start, we often have it colder than is needed to keep food safe. Keep the temperature between 3- 5°C and keep it in the coolest place you can, with plenty of space behind and on top. If you have a second ‘beer’ fridge, only switch it on when you need it.

 

Defrost and clean your fridge at least every 6 months, and clean the coils at the back every year. Make sure the door seals are in good condition; if the closed door can’t grip a piece of paper, it’s time to get the seals replaced. It’s not an expensive job; check the Yellow Pages and ring around for a quote.

 

If you’re buying a new fridge, think carefully about the size. Too small and it will be overloaded and inefficient, too big and you’ll waste energy chilling empty shelves. Compare energy ratings - a high-star fridge can save a lot on running costs and greenhouse pollution compared with a lower-rated model. Finally, if you’re going away for a while, empty and turn off the fridge and leave the door open.

 

6 easy ways to keep your home cool and energy-efficient.

 

1. Insulate your roof.

 

And your walls if you can. A well-insulated home can be up to 10°C cooler in summer. You’ll be more comfortable and save money on air-conditioning.

 

2. Seal gaps around doors and windows.

 

Hot air from outside can significantly heat up your home. Put draught excluders on external doors and weather-sealing tape between windows and frames.

 

3. Put up blinds or curtains.

 

Covering the inside of your windows cuts out a fair bit of heat; external shading using canvas blinds, awnings or shutters cuts out a lot more. It’s best to have both.

 

4. Open up windows and doors in the evening.

 

Or once it’s cooler outside. But don’t leave windows wide open at night to tempt intruders.

 

5. Use portable or ceiling fans wherever you can.

 

They’re surprisingly effective and much cheaper to run than air-conditioning.

 

6. Check the filters on your air-conditioning.

 

If you must use an air-conditioner, choose an energy-efficient model and put it on the shaded side of your home. Clean the air filter every 3 months to make sure it’s running efficiently. Set the thermostat between 25-27°C and close doors to the rooms you’re not using. If you can’t program your unit to turn on and off automatically, use a cheap plug-in timer from a hardware store.

 

Further information 

For more information on Energy Rating labels see www.energyrating.gov.au