Winter in Brisbane might be mild, but cooler mornings and nights can still send your energy use climbing.

The good news? You don’t need to make big changes to stay comfortable. A few simple power hacks can help you keep the chill out, use less energy and save money on your bills.

Whether you’re renting, owning or sharing a home, here are 10 simple things you can try this winter.

Your five-minute winter power-up

Looking for the quick wins? Start here:

1. Set your heater between 18°C and 21°C.
2. Only heat the rooms you’re using.
3. Use your heater’s timer rather than leaving it running.
4. Close curtains and blinds when the sun goes down.
5. Block draughts around doors and windows.

Ready for more? Here’s how to make your home work harder for you this winter.

1. Let the sunshine in

Brisbane winters bring plenty of sunny days, so make the most of them.

Open curtains and blinds during the day to let sunlight naturally warm your home. Once the sun starts to disappear and temperatures drop, close them again to help keep that warmth inside.

It’s one of the simplest ways to make your home more comfortable without switching on the heater.

Powerhack: Open your curtains when you wake up and close them again as the sun goes down.

2. Stop the draught

If cold air is sneaking under your doors or through gaps around windows, your heater has to work harder to keep your home warm.

Check around doors and windows for obvious draughts and try:

• A draught stopper at the bottom of doors
• Sealing gaps around windows and doors
• Closing internal doors to rooms you’re not using
• Keeping curtains and blinds closed at night

You can even make your own draught stopper using old fabric and materials you already have at home.

Want to give it a go? Check out our guide to making your own door draught snake.

3. Layer up before you turn up

Before reaching for the heater, reach for a jumper.

Adding an extra layer of clothing, putting on warm socks or grabbing a blanket can help you stay comfortable without increasing your energy use.

It might sound simple, but small changes to how we stay warm can add up over winter.

Powerhack: Keep a jumper or blanket somewhere handy so you’re more likely to reach for it before turning up the heat.

4. Set your heater to the sweet spot

When you do need heating, set your air conditioner or heater to a comfortable temperature rather than turning it right up.

For winter, 18–21°C is a good range for comfort and energy efficiency.

Setting your heater significantly warmer doesn’t mean your home will heat up more efficiently. It simply means your system needs to work harder for longer.

Powerhack: Try setting your heater to 20°C and adjusting from there rather than automatically turning it up.

5. Heat the room, not the whole house

If you’re spending the evening in the lounge room, there’s no need to heat every other room in the house.

Close doors to rooms you’re not using and focus your heating where you actually need it.

This is particularly useful if you’re using a reverse-cycle air conditioner or other room-based heating.

Powerhack: Ask yourself, “Where am I actually spending time?” before switching on the heater.

Brrrr! When it’s cold outside, it’s time to plug all the gaps in your house. Close the doors and grab a door snake or an inexpensive door brush strip to keep all that warm fuzzy heat inside. You can even get seals for your windows too! 

6. Put your heater on a timer

Do you really need the heater running all night?

Using your air conditioner’s timer can help prevent unnecessary heating while you’re asleep or after you’ve left the house.

Try setting your heater to switch off after you’ve gone to bed rather than running continuously throughout the night.

You can also use a timer to start heating a room shortly before you get up on a particularly cold morning.

Powerhack: A little planning can mean you wake up warm without leaving the heater running for hours.

7. Give your air conditioner a little TLC

A dirty or clogged air filter can make your air conditioner work harder than it needs to.

Check your manufacturer’s instructions and clean your filters regularly to help your system run efficiently.

It’s also worth checking that furniture, curtains or other objects aren’t blocking the airflow.

Powerhack: Add checking your air conditioner filters to your regular household cleaning routine.

8. Make the most of your ceiling fan

Fans aren’t just for summer.

Depending on your ceiling fan, a winter setting can help circulate warm air that has risen towards the ceiling, helping distribute heat around the room.

Check your fan’s instructions to see whether it has a summer/winter setting and how to use it.

Using your fan to help circulate air can make a room feel more comfortable without needing to turn up the heater.

9. Think beyond winter

If you’re a homeowner or planning a renovation, improvements to your home’s insulation can help make it more comfortable throughout the year.

Good insulation slows the transfer of heat, helping keep warmth inside during winter and heat outside during summer. This can reduce the amount of heating and cooling you need.

Roof, wall and floor insulation can all play a role, depending on your home.

For renters, there are still plenty of low-cost options you can try without making permanent changes, including curtains, draught stoppers and smarter use of heating.

Powerhack: Think about your home as a whole. The best energy-saving solution isn’t always a new appliance.

10. Make your winter routine work harder

Sometimes the easiest way to save energy is to change when you use it.

Take advantage of warmer, sunnier parts of the day where you can. Open your curtains during the day, dry clothes outside when the weather allows and save energy-intensive activities for times that suit your household and energy setup.

And remember, not every winter day in Brisbane needs heating.

If your home is comfortable without it, leave the heater switched off.

Powerhack: Before switching something on, ask yourself whether you actually need it.

Small changes can make a big difference

You don’t need to overhaul your home or sacrifice your comfort to use less energy.

Start with the things that are easy for you. Block a draught, change your heating temperature, close the curtains at night or use your heater’s timer.

These small actions can help reduce unnecessary energy use while keeping your home comfortable and your bills under control.

For more ideas, check out our other energy-saving tips.