It turns out, a heater isn’t the most efficient way to keep warm regardless of the current cost of electricity.
If you are looking for ways to stay warm this winter, we’ve put together a list of five things to try that don’t involve turning the heater up.
1. Heated clothes
Why heat the whole house when you can heat the parts of your body that are feeling the cold? You name it, there’s probably a heating device for it. From USB-rechargeable heated vest, to heated socks, thinking outside the box when it comes to keeping warm can save you lots of money.
But that’s not all. A quick google search found battery-powered heated gloves, app-controlled “body furnaces” and battery heated insoles for your shoes.
2. Heated furniture, throws and blankets
The heated gadgets don’t stop at clothing either. Heated throws are hugely popular right now and use a lot less energy than trying to heat a whole room with a heater. Or go one step further, and purchase a heated chair or chair pad to keep you cosy.
Be careful with older heated blankets as they can wear out over time and become a fire hazard.
3. Wool isn’t king
Rugging up is a given when it’s cold, but wool isn’t necessarily king when it comes to warming fibres. In an interview with the ABC, Dr Rebecca Van Amber, a senior lecturer at RMIT's School of Fashion and Textiles says it actually depends on how thick the fabric is.
"When you actually look at the science, the property of the fabric that has the most effect on how warm it is, is actually just how thick it is," she says.
"So for most people, whether you're wearing a polyester jumper or a wool jumper, if they're exactly the same thickness, they'll have pretty much the same insulating properties."
4. Insulate your room
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the cold weather has seen people coming up with some creative ways to stay warm.
TikTok creator Stephanie shared a “dodge” but “effective” way to stop hot air from seeping out of her bedroom - taping cardboard over the window.
“I’ve completely sealed it off with cardboard,” she said. “It looks dodge but it’s really effective at insulating a giant piece of glass in your room.”
Watch her TikTok video here.
If cardboard isn’t your thing, you can also try insulating your windows using bubble wrap.
5. Use your ceiling fan
Okay so this tip does involve a heater, but it doesn’t require turning it up. It sounds like a hoax but using your ceiling fan can help stop the hot air from rising.
Most ceiling fans have a reverse switch, making the blades turn anti-clockwise. This will push the rising hot air back down towards the ground, keeping you warmer!
6. Update your window furnishings
Evan Montero, Co-Founder of DIY Blinds says lined curtains are a "designers best kept secret".
“Lined sheer curtains are one of the most insulating window furnishings, and a designer’s best kept secret,” says Evan.
“They're made of a sheer curtain and a blockout lining joined together on one curtain track. Architects and designers love lined curtains for so many reasons. They're super versatile, they're plush and weighted without projecting too far out from windows, and they add sophisticated drama to any room.”
May the warmth be with you!
