As the leaves start to fall, energy bills begin to rise. Following the cost of living crisis, turning down the thermostat is both an easy way to save money and a necessary step in reducing our carbon footprint. Despite this, we know that no-one wants to sit and shiver - that’s why we’ve pulled together a list of ten quick-fire tips on reducing energy usage without turning down the heat.
1. Do not turn the heating off – whilst appearing counterproductive, switching the central heating on and off repetitively can use more power than keeping a more consistent setting.
2. Seal gaps – try and seal off areas where cool drafts might appear, such as unused keyholes or below doors. Specialised draft stoppers are available to buy for doorways.
3. Install heat reflectors behind radiators – the heat generated by a radiator warms up the wall as opposed to the room; reflective panels can help to redirect the direction of the heat to its preferred area.
4. Bleed your radiators – bleeding radiators and refilling them with water can improve their ability to heat a room without using more power.
5. Service your boiler – scheduling an annual review of your boiler ensures it is operating at its best.
6. Turn your water temperature down – boilers lose heat through the high temperature water stored for long periods of time; turning down the temperature helps to save energy.
7. Use a heated blanket – whilst these blankets use electricity, heating a small area locally requires less energy than heating a whole room, hence, a more efficient option to central heating.
8. Insulate windows – if you live in an older house with single glazing, the windows can be a great source of heat loss. Replacing windows can be a costly process, but a more cost-effective option is retrofitting with a clear film design to reduce heat loss.
9. Use of heavy curtains – curtains can be a great source of insulation. If windows are doing little to stop heat loss. Choose a thicker curtain, and make sure you close them as soon as the sun goes down.
10. Make use of the sun – the sun can provide a natural and free heat source!
