Keep out the winter chill with these free, low-cost tips

Energy prices are set to rise up to 25 per cent across Australia from July 1.

It's a scary thought as we head deeper into winter, with welfare agencies already reporting grave fears for people who can't afford to turn on their home heating. 

It's been a particularly cold week in my home town of Ballarat in regional Victoria, but I've been challenging myself to work from home without turning on my heater. 

I've managed surprisingly well, thanks to the help of local expert Ellen Burns from not-for-profit organisation Smart Living Ballarat, who shared her top cost and energy saving tips during a community workshop on free ways to stay warm.  

"Energy costs are going up … a lot of people might feel a bit helpless, but I wanted to help make people feel empowered to do things with items they already have in their house to keep warm and cosy," Ellen says. 

Heat the person first

It may seem a simple concept, to heat the person, not the room first, but it's something I hadn't thought much about before listening to Ellen's workshop.

My usual habit when walking into my cold house has been to turn on the gas central heating.

But before switching on the heat, try layering up first.

Put on your dressing gown, an extra pair of socks, slippers, beanie, thermals, or as I have been doing in the comfort of my home office, one of those poncho style, big fluffy blankets that have holes for your arms and your head.

Ellen says if you do need to turn the heater on, heat as small a space as possible to "create your own microclimate".

Also try:

• Closing the doors to the room you are in.
• Using a floor heater, heated throw, heat pack or hot water bottle to heat your personal space.

Don't have a heat pack? You can make one by pouring rice into a clean sock and tying it off at the end. 

According to Ellen's cost analysis, a heated throw rug is more cost effective than a space heater, at four cents per hour to run, compared to 15 cents per hour for a space heater. 

When it comes to heat packs, it costs one cent for three minutes in the microwave, while boiling the kettle to fill a hot water bottle costs six cents, but keep in mind a hot water bottle keeps its heat for much longer. 

Remember to always follow the safety advice when using heated products.

Keep the heat in 

Ellen says the next step is to focus on keeping that precious heat in your home. 

Here are some of her tips:

• Open curtains when the sun is shining and close them in shade or dark.
• Place a mirror next to your window to reflect light and heat into the room. 
• Place plant pots, ideally terracotta, on your windowsills to absorb and radiate heat.
• Put your heater in the middle of the room if possible to avoid losing heat through walls and windows.
• Create DIY double glazing: spray windows with water and stick bubble wrap on with the smooth side towards you.

• Lay rugs, blankets or towels on the floor, over windows or doorways and on walls for added insulation.
• Rearrange the furniture to have bookshelves, wardrobes and other storage on the south side of your house — the cold side where you will lose the most heat.
• Leave your oven, dishwasher and shower door open after use to release hot air into the room.

DIY draft stoppers

Grace Darke has recently moved into a draughty weatherboard house in Ballarat. She previously lived in a modern, well-insulated, warm house in the United Kingdom.

Grace says she learnt lots of new tips at Ellen's workshop, but one of her major takeaways is to make DIY draught excluders, or a door snake which moves with your door.

Put two cardboard tubes into a pair of old stockings, then place those tubes on either side of the door. It helps to cover gaps under the doors.

Grace also uses clothes, blankets or towels to fill in any gaps to stop heat from escaping.

Another Ballarat local, Michelle Hunter, says she makes DIY curtain pelmets, by draping material over curtain rods to block the gap above her curtain. 

'Reverse summer'

Ellen says we can "reverse summer", by switching ceiling fans or air-conditioning units on reverse to push hot air back down into the room.

Reverse cycle air conditioners are one of the most efficient heating options. 

And if you are still freezing in your home, consider heading out.

As you might go to the cinema to escape the heat on a sweltering summer today, make the most of heated public spaces like libraries and shopping centres.