Budget-busting tips to stay warm during an icy winter

The Senior spoke with two experts around easy budget-friendly ways to stay warm without breaking the bank like sealing up gaps, creating 'zones' and why buying an $8 thermometer is money well spent.

Research shows four in every five Australian houses didn't meet the World Health Organisation's minimum temperature for a house should be 18 degrees Celsius.

In 100 houses across different parts of Australia, 81 per cent had an average indoor temperature between June-August 2022 was 16.5 degrees Celsius, with no significant difference between locations. The study was published in journal Energy Research & Social Science in June 2023.

Tim McCarthy is the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre director at University of Wollongong, and Dr Lyrian Daniel is an Associate Professor in Architecture and an enterprise fellow at UniSA Creative.

Both said people should not put up with being in cold environments, as it may exacerbate health issues.

Being in cold conditions may lead to high blood pressure, exacerbating cardiovascular disease, plus worsen respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma, plus poorer mental health and higher instances of depression and anxiety.

"Stoicism, particularly in winter, is unfortunately all too common in Australia," Lyrian said.

"Just because our winters are relatively mild compared to northern America or many European countries, doesn't mean that we don't see significant health effects."

Tim said personal mobility is also a factor; less mobile people should have an indoor room temperature of 22 degrees Celsius.

He said a thermometer - about $8 - is the cheapest device for managing indoor climate.

"Knowing your temperature is the first stage to cutting your electricity bills."

He said a temperature and humidity sensor - about $20 - would be ideal, as humidity leads to mould, particularly during the summer months.

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Managing airflow is essential, even for people who have arthritis or have lost their strength. Big window fittings that people can get a grip on could help.

In one case, Tim found an elderly couple keeping their windows - which had gone stiff - open because they had lost the ability to close them. This was remedied with a new window lock, lubricating moving parts, and easing things that were jamming.

Create 'heat zones' in your house where you only heat certain rooms, and trap the air in one room by shutting off doors to hallways and utility areas.

Block up any gaps around windows, doors and other vents to prevent drafts and keep heat in; hardware stores often have inexpensive options for weatherstripping.

Carpet or rugs over older timber floors can help minimise drafts coming from underneath.

Window coverings including thermal curtains and honeycomb blinds help with thermal insulation.

Tim said portable heaters should be kept in the middle of the room for best efficiency. They should not be kept against an external wall or near a window, as the heat will readily transfer outside. He recommended a thermostatically-controlled, oil-filled radiator for comparative cost and safety.

For new builds, houses should have passive design principles, including facing north with windows in this direction, plus have a central thermal mass wall and floor that can soak up the sun's rays during the day and release heat at night. The government website yourhome.gov.au says more about this.

Double-glazed windows and insulation - including in the roof, not just the walls - stops air from escaping year-round.

Solar is the best long-term way to save money on power, but it does have an upfront cost. Reverse-cycling air conditioning is one of the most economical ways to heat your home.

Finally, check to see if you are receiving all concessions available to you, and ask your energy supplier for a cheaper deal or support.