Hibiscus Coast residents are warned not to freeze this winter, or blow your budget keeping warm.

The Auckland Council has issued several energy-saving tips to keep you warm and save you money this winter. 

Trim back any trees or plants that block your windows, (if you are renting, make sure you ask permission). 

This will allow more of the sun’s warmth into the house. 

Curtains work wonders in keeping a home warm - provided they are lined, well-fitted and hung correctly. 

There must be no gaps between a curtain and the frame or wall at the top.

Curtains should also reach the floor. 

They need to be lined so they trap an insulating air layer between the two layers of fabric. 

If you open curtains during the day and close them before sunset, you’ll trap the warmth from winter sunshine. 

Use draught-stopping tape or draught excluders to stop cold air from getting in through gaps around door and window frames and seal off disused fireplaces.

If you have a heat pump, clean the filters and set the thermostat on heating mode to 21 or 22 degrees. 

That’s a good balance between keeping warm, and not wasting energy. 

For every degree higher you set your heat pump, you use 10 per cent more electricity. 

If you don’t have any fixed heating in the main living area you may be eligible for a heating grant through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme, which will cover 80 per cent of the cost.

Install water-efficient showerheads. 

These will help you save water without reducing pressure, and they also use less energy to heat the water. 

Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes. 

Most pre-2003 electric hot water cylinders are poorly insulated, and even newer ones will benefit from an extra layer of insulation. 

Cylinder wrap and pipe lagging are available from hardware stores and can be used to cover the cylinder and the first metre or so of piping.