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Practical Tips on How Australian Homes Can Reduce Their Electricity Bill This Winter

Reduce Electricity Bill

Practical Tips on How Australian Homes Can Reduce Their Electricity Bill This Winter

Posted on in Blog

With energy prices rising across Australia, many households are bracing themselves for another costly winter. As heaters have been kicked into high gear and our shorter (very cold) days demand more artificial light, it’s not uncommon to see a spike in electricity bills. But what if you could stay warm and save money?

Improving energy efficiency at home doesn’t require a full-scale renovation. In fact, smart, cost-effective upgrades like retrofit double glazing windows can make a substantial difference in how your home retains heat and uses power. Here’s how to reduce your electricity bill this winter without sacrificing comfort.

Understand Where Your Energy Is Going

Before tackling your winter power bill, it’s helpful to understand where the energy drains typically occur in the average Australian home. According to studies done on energy usage:

  • Heating and cooling account for around 40% of household energy use.
  • Water heating makes up about 23%.
  • Lighting and appliances account for the rest.

This means improving the efficiency of your heating system and minimising heat loss through windows, doors and walls can significantly reduce your electricity use.

Seal Heat Inside with Retrofit Double Glazing

Up to 49% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through untreated windows and doors. That’s nearly half of your energy bill literally slipping through the glass.

Magnetite’s retrofit double glazing window system offers a smarter solution. Instead of removing and replacing your windows, our system adds a discreet second panel to the inside of your existing frame, creating an insulating air gap that mimics the benefits of traditional double glazing.

This results in less heat escapes, the cold air stays out and your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard, in turn leading to significant energy savings.

Benefits of retrofit double glazing:

  • Cuts heat loss through windows by up to 70%.
  • Reduces electricity usage by helping rooms stay warm for longer.
  • Enhances thermal comfort without the disruption of window replacement.

Optimise Your Heating Habits

Even the most efficient windows won’t help if heating is used inefficiently. Follow these simple practices to keep your home warm without overloading your energy bills:

  • Set your thermostat to 18–20°C. Every degree above that can increase energy use by 10%.
  • Only heat occupied rooms and keep doors closed to contain warmth.
  • Use timers to preheat rooms before use, instead of running heating systems constantly.

Prevent Draughts and Air Leaks

Draughts are a major contributor to heat loss, especially in older homes. Common problem areas include:

  • Gaps around windows and doors
  • Floorboards and skirting boards
  • Chimneys and wall vents

Use weather seals, door snakes and window insulation kits to plug these gaps. For a more durable, effective solution, Magnetite offers Sealtite weather and acoustic seals, which work in tandem with retrofit double glazing to further prevent cold air infiltration.

Harness Natural Warmth

Even during winter, the sun is your best (and free!) heating source. Make the most of it:

  • Open curtains during the day to let sunlight warm your home naturally.
  • Close curtains or blindsin the evening to trap heat indoors.
  • Consider installing Solartite window film to block UV rays in warmer months while retaining heat during winter.

Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances and Lighting

While heating is the biggest contributor to winter energy bills, don’t overlook other appliances. If you’re using older, inefficient models, consider replacing them with energy-rated alternatives.

  • LED lights use about 75% less energy than incandescent globes.
  • Reverse-cycle air conditioners are often more efficient than electric heaters.
  • Use cold water for washing and set your hot water system to 60°C or lower to reduce power usage.

Monitor and Compare Your Energy Usage

Take advantage of smartmeters or energy monitoring apps offered by your provider to see real-time usage and identify when and where your energy consumption spikes. Comparing billing cycles from year to year after energy efficiency upgrades can also help validate the impact of your efforts.

Why Invest in Thermal Insulation?

Good insulation, especially in windows, is the foundation of a warm, energy-efficient home. Without it, you’ll constantly battle against the elements and rely heavily on artificial heating, increasing both your energy bills and your carbon footprint.

Magnetite’s window insulation solutions are tailored to Australian homes. Whether you’re in the chilly suburbs of Melbourne or dealing with frosty mornings in Adelaide, our retrofit double glazing systems provide a cost-effective, non-invasive way to make your home more comfortable.

Real Results from Real Homes

We’ve seen customers cut their winter electricity bills significantly after installing our double glazing solutions. But beyond the numbers, the most common feedback is the noticeable improvement in comfort fewer cold spots and a cosier indoor environment without the heater running 24/7.

If your winter energy bills are creeping higher every year, it’s time to take action. Small changes can lead to big savings, especially when it comes to how your windows perform.

Magnetite offers tailored solutions for homes looking to reduce heat loss, lower power bills and increase comfort. Book in a free measure and quote today!

 

  1. Conduction
    Heat moving through an object (i.e. heat will travel through an aluminium, or steel frame more easily than through a timber or PVC frame).
  2. Radiant heat
    Heat from the direct sun. It can pass through space until reflected or absorbed.
  3. Convection
    Heat flow resulting from air movement e.g. either 'natural' convection - warm air rises, or 'forced' convection - a breeze by a window, both can result in a draught by a window.
  4. Infiltration
    Air leaks around the frame, around the window sash and through the gaps in the movable window parts.

When evaluating your options to improve the thermal performance of your windows, the following double glazing key performance criteria should be considered:

  • U-Value (Uw) represents heat transfer through a window, irrespective of direct sunlight. The lower a window’s U-Value, the better the insulation performance.
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures the solar energy that passes through glazing. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat is transmitted through a window.
  • Air Infiltration or leakage measures the rate at which air passes through gaps in window joins and seals. The lower the air infiltration, the better a window’s energy performance.

The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) Thermal Performance

Aluminium Frame Windows

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC
Single glazed 3mm clear glass* half blue star red starhalf red star 7.4 0.77
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starhalf red star 35% 59% 2.9 0.67

Timber Frame Windows

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC
Single glazed 3mm clear glass* blue starhalf blue star red starred starred starhalf red star 20% 28% 5.5 0.69
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starred star 37% 61% 2.6 0.66
Single glazed 3mm clear glass with
Solartite** and 4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starblue starblue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starhalf red star 76% 45% 1.8 0.20

 

*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.

Magnetite vs Traditional Double Glazing – What the experts says

Winter - the ideal situation is to let in as much of the sun's heat and then trap it inside to maintain a comfortable environment in your home or office. This will also significantly reduce heating costs and saves you money. The ideal window for winter will have a high SHGC to let the sun's heat in and a low U-Value to prevent the heat from escaping. Clear windows without shading films are better suited for winter climates.

Compared with traditional double-glazing, Magnetite’s double-glazing solution can provide better results during winter or for cold climate areas such as Canberra, the Adelaide Hills and Blue Mountains.

Magnetite's clear acrylic window panels allow the direct heat from the sun's rays to enter the building and once inside, Magnetite's superior magnetic seals retain the heat, giving Magnetite an advantage over conventional operating windows.

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC AI
Double Glazed 3mm clear glass/12mm air
gap/3mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)*		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starhalf red star 40% 55% 3.0 0.61 5.0
Single glazed 3mm clear glass &
4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starred starred star 37% 61% 2.6 0.66 0.5

 

*WERS standard typical industry window

Summer - the ideal situation is to minimize the heat coming in from outside and prevent the cool air inside from escaping through the window. This will make your home more comfortable and reduce your air-conditioning costs. The ideal window for summer, or for a large west-facing window, will have a low SHGC to limit the heat from the sun's direct rays, as well as, a low U-Value to prevent the heat in the air outside from moving through the window and warming the cool conditioned air inside. It is better to have a shading film on the first (outer) glass pane to limit the heat that enters the double glazed unit.

The combination of Magnetite retrofit double glazing and Solartite outperforms the traditional insulated glass unit for hot climate. Magnetite fit over an existing window with reflective film will give better summer heat control than a double-glazed window with supertoned glass.

The Magnetite system stops the conduction and convection of heat better than glass windows giving superior results for summer conditions. Combined with a film or a shading device, Magnetite is the ideal solution for the hot Australian conditions.

Glazing Type Cooling Stars Heating Stars Cool% Heat% Uw SHGC AI
Double Glazed 5mm Supertoned glass/6mm
air gap/5mm clear glass IGU (Insulated Glass Unit)*		 blue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred starhalf red star 54% 425% 3.30 0.461 5.0
Single glazed 3mm glass Solartite**
and 4.5mm Magnetite		 blue starblue starblue starblue starblue starhalf blue star red starred starred starred star 73% 38% 2.4 0.19 0.5

 

*WERS standard typical industry window
**Solartite is a range of high performance window film. The window tested above has Solartite’s low-e film.

Click here to view pdf version of Magnetite WERS test result.

Noise Reduction Technical Data and Results

Proven Results

Noise pollution is one the biggest problems faced in the cities today, particularly in a high-density living. Unwanted noise can be responsible for sleep loss and lack of concentration. This can lead to a deterioration of health through increased stress levels, headaches, high blood pressure and loss of hearing.

Noise penetrates windows through leaky seals or vibrations through the window structure. To reduce noise, a window should minimise air infiltration, hold enough weight to limit vibration and allow a large air cavity. This cavity, or air gap, is the key to secondary glazing.

Expert Advice:

CSIRO Research by John Davy shown an air cavity can effectively enhance sound insulation performance. The larger the air cavity the more noise the window system can reduce. Results show a wide air gap of 100-125mm will improve sound insulation by an average of 7dB(A) more than windows with a narrow gap of 8-13mm.

Window or Glass Door Type Total Glass Thickness (mm) Air Cavity Thickness (mm) Sound Insulation (dB)
Single Glaze 3mm 3 0 23
Single Glaze 6mm 6 0 27
Double Glaze Narrow Gap 9-12 8-13 31
Double Glaze Wide Gap 9-12 100-125 38

 

The human ear is less sensitive to low frequency sound. According to a study released by the CSIRO, the human ear needs a change of 3dB to detect a difference in noise levels and the human ear perceives a change of 10dB as a doubling or halving of the noise level.

If you double the thickness of glass in a window the noise level will decrease by 3dB the least amount possible to make a difference. If the glass is laminated there is no perceived difference in noise reduction.

National Acoustic Laboratory Testing:

Working with the principles of noise transfer, Magnetite® and Soundtite are designed for high performance, which is achieved by combining air tight seals with the ability to maximize an air cavity and the flexibility to vary glazing thickness to suit. Magnetite® is excellent at reducing general noise such as busy roads, commuter trains and noisy neighbours. Whereas, Soundtite works well to combat low frequencies noise such as garbage truck, freight trains or airplane during take-off and landing.

Test Code Material Tested Rw* Improvement
ATF 707 (test window) Aluminium sliding window, 3mm float glass with mohair seals 23 N/A
ATF 709 Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (4.5mm acrylic panel) 35 52%
ATF 1507 Test window, 100mm air gap and Magnetite System (10.0mm acrylic panel) 39 70%
ATF 817 Test window, 100mm air gap and Soundtite (6.38mm laminated glass) 41 78%

 

*The Weighted Sound Reduction Index (Rw) is a measure for sound insulation performance of a single building element such as windows. The higher the Rw rating, the better the sound insulation.