Ellerfield Financial planning

1 - Eat out Escape from a hot, stuffy kitchen and make the most of the balmy evenings with a barbeque dinner. If you must use the stovetop, cover saucepans tightly so the food cooks quicker; or, use the microwave, which requires less energy.

2 - Watch your windows On scorching days, keep windows and drapes shut. Light-coloured curtains or blinds reflect sunlight away. Consider installing shutters, awnings, block-out blinds or reflective window film to keep heat out and the interior shaded. If you replace windows, choose Energy Star-approved materials. At night, when the temperature falls, open the doors and windows to let in the cooler air.

3 - Be energy efficient When updating appliances (especially fridges, which use the most energy), make sure they have a high Energy Star rating – each additional star means a saving of around 10 per cent in running costs. If you have an extra fridge or freezer, don’t keep it in an uninsulated area like a garage. Wash in cold water: a massive 85 per cent of energy needed for a load of washing is spent on heating the water. Swap to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which last 12 times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs and use a third of the energy.

4 - Switch off If your power points are hard to reach, buy a couple of Eco-switches ($14.95; www.eco-switch.com.au). Voted one of the top five ideas in the ABC’s New Inventors, they let you move a power point to an easier-to-access location so you are more likely to switch off and unplug appliances when not in use. This saves substantial standby energy – up to 10 per cent of the average household’s bill.

5 - Keep it clean If you have air-conditioning (AC), book a service – you’ll recoup the cost in improved efficiency. Considering getting AC? Split reverse-cycle systems tend to use less energy than fixed units. Whichever model you choose, ensure it has a high Energy Star rating, economy settings and adjustable speeds, and choose one sized for the space you want to cool – too-large units waste energy. Clean filters and coils regularly. Another option is an evaporative cooler, which works by drawing air through a water-moistened filter. Whichever system you use, maximise its effects by closing doors to areas not being cooled and using a ceiling fan, which pulls hot air up and away from where you are. Four-bladed fans with tilted blades provide the best air circulation.

6 - Go natural If you don’t have AC (or want to reduce using it), open windows on the side of a room where a breeze is coming in and position a fan to blow hot air out a window on the opposite side, creating a ‘chimney’ effect. Install a pergola over heat-affected windows, and grow deciduous climbing vines over it. Plant shady hedges along driveways and paths, as concrete and pavers store and radiate heat.