Whether you’re a summer lover or a snow chaser, we all have one thing in common–no one wants to live in a cold home over winter. But as the cold creeps in, we often watch in horror as our energy bills skyrocket–fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s entirely possible to stay cosy indoors with af ew simple adjustments, some smart technology, and a potential leg up thanks to government rebates–no long johns required. Here’s how.

1.Your fan, but in reverse

Sure, you know and love your ceiling fan in the summer, but did you know it could also be yoursecret warming weapon in the winter? During summer, your ceiling fan blades will turncounterclockwise, delivering that delicious wind-chill factor. In winter,search out the reverse switch(which most newer models have) and voila–your ceiling fan will now push all that rising heatbackdown to floor level.

2.Invest in a humidifier

While humidity doesn’t actually increase the temperature indoors like a heater, it does make your home feel warmer–think of it like the difference between a dry 30-degree summer’s day versus ahumid one. This extra layer of warmth can make the difference when it comes to cranking up yourheating, and humidifiers typically have lower energy consumption (and, therefore, running costs)than heating systems.

3.Worship the sun!

Channel your inner ancient Aztec and worship the sun–as fleeting as it may be. This includesrepositioning your furniture near areas of the home that get a lot of natural light and heat from thesun and casting curtains and blinds wide open during sunny days. Making the most of nature'sbest warmer can significantly contribute to your home's heat–especially if you have large windowsfacing south or north and have good insulation in place. More onthat next!

4.Banish heat leaks, beef up heat traps

Before you bring in the big guns (heating systems), make sure you’ve got the foundations set tokeep that precious heat in. Focus on these key areas:

Seal gaps–small gaps around doors, windows and air vents bring chilly drafts into your homeand make heating less efficient. Seal these with weather stripping, draft excluders or a goodold-fashionedDIY door snake. Don’t forget the pet doors, too.

Check and upgrade your insulation–good quality, correctly installed insulationis the singlebest thing you can do to keep your home comfortable all year round. It’ll make a noticeabledifference to your heating and cooling efforts and bills.

Window woes–up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost through windows, whichmakes double glazing a no-brainer–if it’s within your budget. For an easy and affordable alternative, try a window film insulation kit. It’s a transparent shrink film that’s easily applied toyour window frames, creating a thermal barrier just like double glazing.

Drapes over drafts–heavy curtains or thermal blinds add another protection against heatleaking windows and are great at locking in warmth after a sunny day. For maximum impact,your curtains should extend beyond the window frame and drape to the floor.

Rug up–wooden ortiled floors feel icy underfoot and canaccount for 10-20% of heat loss inyour home. While underfloor insulation helps here, add an extra layer of warmth and preventheat loss with cosy woollen or shag style rugs. If you can still feel the wind whistling up throughgappy old floorboards, pop an underlay beneath your rug, too.

5.Take advantage of government rebatesGovernmentrebatesand incentivescan make energy-efficient home upgrades much more affordable. In Australia, schemes like theSolar Rebate,Home Energy Efficiency Retrofits, andstate-specific offers help reduce the upfront costs for insulation, heat pumps and smartthermostats. It’s worth checking your state or federal energy schemes to see if you qualify for financial assistance. Beyond government initiatives, some energy providers and councils also runsustainability programs, offering incentives for switching to greener energy sources or improving your home insulation

6.Warm where it counts

While a consistent temperature flowing seamlessly between rooms is nice, get clever and heatyour home strategically. Close doors to rooms you don’t use often–like guest bedrooms and storage areas–and keep heating concentrated in the areas that matter most. This will reduce yourheating system's work, improving energy efficiency while keeping your most commonly used areas,like your living room and bedroom, consistently warm. It’s a simple habit that makes abigdifference.

7.Heat smarter

In a similar vein to warming where it counts, but a whole lot smarter, smart thermostats likeGoogleNestorEcobeelearn your heating habits and adjust temperatures automatically before you even set foot inside. These can also be paired with smart radiator valves and zoned heating, which havebuilt-in sensors to ensure you only heat rooms that are in use and can be controlled from your phone. These upgrades typically mean you’ll waste less heating and save on your energy bills. All with minimal effort.

8.Invest in maintenance and upgrades

It might seem obvious but keeping your heating system well-maintained and regularly serviced willmake sure it’s running efficiently and that you won’t get caught in the cold due to an unexpectedbreakdown. If your system has seen better days and your budget allows, it’s worth upgrading to anewer heat pump or gas heater with a high Energy Star rating for energy efficiency, cost savings,and performance. And when it comes to setting the dial, aim for 18-20°C; every degree higher adds 5-10% to your power bill.

9.Compare energy plans and providers

Heating is one of winter's most significant (and unavoidable) household expenses, but choosing the right provider and plan can make a real difference to your monthly bill. And all it takes is a littleresearch. Where to start? Check your previous winter bills to understand your usage patterns, then jump on to Canstarto compare providers with plans offering off-peak rates, fixed rate plans andany discounts available for direct debit or online billing. Be sure to read the fine print, too, as you don’t want to be stuck with hidden fees or exit charges.

10.Heat the human, not the home

Winter indoors at yours shouldn’t be t-shirt weather, so make sure you rug up and stay warm without relying on cranking the heat. It’s the perfect opportunity to snuggle into that cosy robe, popon your fluffy socks and Ugg boots and wrap up under a toastyheated throw.Sip on warmingdrinks, whip up somehearty winter meals, and if you’re using the oven, you can even warm thekitchen once you're finished by leaving the oven door open just a crack while it cools–just becautious with kids or pets around.It's a wrap: stay warm and cosy and save money this winter

Staying warm this winter doesn’t have to mean bills that give you the chills. With a few upgrades andclever tips, you can create an energy and cost-efficient home that doesn’t compromise on the cosyfactor.Need help finding your perfect winter-ready home? Reach out to yourlocalFirst NationalRealEstate,and your local friendly experts will guide you to finding your keys to happiness