Wall vents are so passé. 

*They are essential in rooms that have an un-flued gas heater or open fire, and in hot and steamy areas (bathroom, laundry and kitchen) to allow good ventilation but are just drafty holes in all other rooms.

If you are using energy to heat or cool your house it is a good idea to draught-proof these vents to stop the precious air escaping.  This GIY job is a good temporary solution.  

If you want some fresh air you have to take control of it - windows that open and close are great. Permanent wall-vents are bad (except *). 

Trickiness Rating: EASY

Skirting boards - the bits of wood that cover the gap where the wall meets the floorboards - look like they would be doing a good job of stopping cold air leaking under their skirts. Don't be fooled by this clever charade.

They are a common place for drafts to sneak in to your house but are really easy to fix.

Another adventure, stalking around the house with the caulking gun, awaits.

Trickiness rating: EASY

There are some great rebates and incentives available from your local, state and federal government to help you reduce your energy and water use.

Check out these sites to see what you are eligible for.

Your ducted heating vents may look like well-sealed units but lift a lid and you may be surprised to to find that not all is as it appears.

When you turn your heater on, warm air rushes through the ducts into your house but also draws freezing cold air in from the underfloor space though the gaps around the duct. (quack quack). This doesn’t make for really energy efficient heating.

Grab the caulking gun and seal the gap so you can heat your house without cooling it at the same time.

Trickiness Rating: EASY.

Windows are the weakesk link (thermally speaking) in the average house. They cause more heat gain and loss than any other area of your home  - even when they're closed.

To stop this you have to insulate them - double glazing, heavy curtains or some form of secondary glazing that traps a layer of still air.  In this GIY project we insulate a timber sash window with a plastic film called Clear Comfort (this is an Australian product but there are a wide range of similar and cheaper products available in the US).

It is affordable (between $5 and 12/m² depending on the brand), easy to install and really makes a difference.

Trickiness rating: EASY

GIY will channel the green cleaner and happily accepts this challenge. Stand-by.

In this GIY episode learn successful seed sowing secrets (say that with an Alan Seale whistle!).

A little seed, in the right soil and season, will flourish into flowers and food. 

Growing them yourself will ensure that you have healthy, thriving plants and any extras can be given away to friends and neighbours.

In this GIY episode find out what to do you do with all your organic waste if you live in a little apartment using a Bokashi Bucket.

The bokashi bucket is a composting system that is ideal for small spaces. It is, as the name suggests, a bucket with a tight fitting lid and a tap that fits in a corner of your balcony or under your kitchen sink. 

It does a great job of fermenting your green waste, doesn't smell and when it is full, just bury it in a friends garden. 

This is not land-fill on a small scale - it just sounds like it!

A look at the options available when you want to replace the energy hungry halogen downlights but don't want to spend a fortune on LED lights.

This episode is not yet filmed but if in development. 

Stand-by

Wall vents are basically holes in your walls. Some look quite decorative, others, just holey. This episode will show you how to do a quick fix for a classic Canberra wall vent.

 

To draft proof your home to keep the warmth  in your house in  winter - block them up. This temporary fix can be removed when Summer hits and you need to vent all the hot air from the house.  If you have air conditioning, leave the vents blocked up ... I think!

 

(Don't you love the voice of confidence and authority)

 

Trickiness rating: Easy