Garden Links

It's Snow Joke - Keeping Warm this Winter

4th December, 2008
Keeping warm this winter without breaking the bank.

Perhaps you've had the experience of opening up an energy bill recently and thought the local shopping centres bill had been sent to the wrong address. With high heating costs and an early freezing snap that has saw sub zero temperatures, snow and frost across the country, we thought it might be worthwhile running through a few tips to help reduce the amount of time your heating is on without shivering along to strictly come dancing.

1. HEAT MANAGEMENT - If you're in all day, get the heating going in the morning to take the chill out the rooms, once its to a reasonable temperature turn the heating down or off completely. A lot of household will have their heating raging for hours when really once the house has warmed up, can be switched off. A few might hours might go by before you feel it's getting a bit nippy again so simply turn the heating back on. All these hours when the heating is off will amount to quite a saving over the month.

2. EMPTY ROOMS - If you have rooms in your house that rarely get used, perhaps a spare bedroom or dining room, switch off the radiators in these rooms as to heat them is just a waste of money. Concentrate your fire on the rooms that are used all the time.

3. INSULATE - Double glazing and loft insulation can have a tremondous effect on keeping warmth in and cold out. A worthy investment if you have the money. However, there is allsorts of grants available for home insulation so do check to see if you qualify. A good place to start is Warm Front that provide a comprehensive package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2700.

For quick, cheap and easy insulation, draughtproof your house. Ensure your letterbox hasn't got a howling wind blowing through by putting an insulation guard over the hole. Place draft excluders at the base of doors, these can come in the form of teddy bear like snakes from curtains shops, velvet oblongs, or even a pair of old stockings stuffed with socks! Place heavy curtains behind external doors and consider changing your curtains in rooms where the curtain material is thin to heavy duty cloth that will slow cold air coming in from the windows.

4. WRAP UP - Now theres a danger of sounding patronising here and stating the obvious. However, a few 'old fashioned' items like thermal vests and slippers can really help make you feel that bit warmer and in need of less heat from your heating. Instead of sitting with your Pina Colada in your Hawiaian shirt saying 'cor its a bit nippy in here pump up the heating', instead put on a couple of jumpers, pair of slippers, even a hat and the thermostat will be left untouched.

Extra blankets or another duvet will make an electric blanket less neccesary, so thats another saving on electricity.

5. GET OUT - One way to spend less on your home heating is to not be there in the first place! Libraries, gyms, shopping centres, local course providers, swimming pools and local pubs and cafes are warm as toast. If you can get out, then spending a few hours each day in these places will reduce your heating bill considerably. If you make sure of course the heating is off while you are out.