Plenty of places across Queensland have been shivering through historically low day and night-time temperatures of late.

From Hervey Bay and Townsville to Mt Isa, Toowoomba and Brisbane, low temperatures have been biting exposed fingers and toes this winter.

In mid-June, Mt Isa recorded its lowest daytime temperature in 42 years – a chilly 9.4 degrees – with Bundaberg also breaking a 71-year-old record by recording just 12.2 degrees.

A month later, Rockhampton and Yeppoon had minimums of three degrees – the lowest in four years –with Townsville, Hervey Bay and Longreach also having their coldest nights since 2004.

Such cold snaps remind us that even here in the Sunshine State, the weather can sometimes be anything but sunny and we do need to think about heating our homes.

Space heating, although not required for long periods, still represents up to 10 per cent of energy bills. In the southern ranges and inland areas of Queensland, a greater portion of winter energy bills will be for heating.

The REIQ is working in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote sustainable housing practices.

Sustainable housing is becoming increasingly important to people. By using less energy around the home, you not only save money, your impact on the environment is lessened through reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPA’s “How to be EnergyWise at home and save on energy bills” recommends ways to lessen the environmental impact of heating your home.

• Decide the right size heater to suit your room and conditions, and keep it in good operating order;

• Install insulation and seal gaps to prevent draughts;

• Decide which rooms require frequent heating and cooling. Make sure they are well insulated and can be closed off from the rest of the house.

There are different types of heating which, depending on your circumstances, could be the right energy-wise choice for you.

Radiant heating: Heats objects rather than air but will eventually heat the air – eg bar radiators, gas radiant heaters, open fireplaces and kerosene heaters. This type of heating is best suited to provide immediate personal warmth in larger rooms.

Forced convection: Involves a fan drawing air into a heater where it is heated and then sent out as warm air – eg electric fan heaters, reverse-cycle air-conditioners and gas heaters. These heaters are designed to heat the air in the room and are particularly suitable for where people move around. Reverse cycle air conditioning set at 19C is the most efficient way to heat your home.

Convection heaters: Circulate warm air through the room by natural air currents – eg some electric, oil and gas heaters and slow-combustion stoves.

Oil filled panel and columns are relatively slow to heat up, and are suitable for heating smaller rooms for a long period of time, especially if several people are using the room. Most are thermostatically controlled. Their low surface temperature makes them safe for small children.

Conduction heating: Transmits warmth directly to the body – eg electric blankets and hot-water bottles. This type of heating is ideal for personal use.