A survey conducted in July by Savanta ComRes, which asked the views of some 800 people, revealed that 23% of the respondents hoped to never turn on their heating when the colder weather arrives. This shocking figure rises to 27% for parents with children under 18. This survey further revealed that 69% of people are looking to reduce the length of time their heating will be on, and 11% are prepared to take out a loan in order to stay warm.
The survey was commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, who made a very clear warning that families will have to make some « heartbreaking decisions ». Although the energy price cap has now been set to £2,500, it still won’t be enough for many families, especially those on a low income. Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) estimated that some 6.7 million households could be thrown into fuel poverty in October despite the £2,500 price freeze on energy bills.
Fuel poverty is defined as spending over 10% of net income on fuel. More than 80% of large families, lone parents and pensioner couples will be in fuel poverty by the winter, according to research.
It’s a sad fact that it will be a cold, miserable winter for some this year. The cold is not just uncomfortable; it can be extremely dangerous, especially for those of advanced age or with medical conditions. Below are a few tips to help keep warm this winter:
1. Thick Curtains – One of the best ways to keep your home warm in the winter is to have thick curtains. Many homes, especially those that don’t have double glazing, will lose a considerable amount of heat through windows.
2. Chimney Balloons – If you have a chimney with an open fire that you no longer use, then you should consider investing in a chimney balloon. Chimney balloons cost from £20 and are a very quick and easy fix to creating a warmer home by blocking heat from exiting up the chimney!
3. Giving Radiators Space – Make sure you keep your radiators away from the furniture. Having your sofa right up against the radiator may look cosy, but it will absorb a great deal of heat. Giving your radiator a little space will allow all the heat to warm the room up. You can also help a radiator become even more efficient by fitting reflective foil at the back, allowing it to reflect heat away from the wall it sits on, and back into the room.
4. Small Drafts – There are many small drafts around the home, which can all contribute to heat loss. Examples are letterboxes, where brush closers are ideal for stopping junk mail leaflets and also stopping excessive drafts. Keyhole covers are great at stopping drafts through keyholes – especially in older homes that may have more traditional locks fitted. Small drafts in windows can be tackled by fitting double glazing film, which, although is not as good as the real thing, is a great deal cheaper.
5. Cover Bare Floors – Did you know that floors that are not insulated can account for up to 12% of total heat loss in a room? If you do not want to use carpet in a room, then using a rug or mat will help.
6. Getting Your Timing Right – If you are experiencing very cold weather, consider setting your heating to come on before you arrive home to allow the house to become warm, as opposed to arriving home, feeling cold and putting the temperature right up (much warmer than you usually have it) to get warm. Having the heating on for longer, with a lower, more stable temperature, will be much more fuel efficient and more comfortable than shorter hot blasts.
7. Switch On Your Ceiling Fan – Switching your ceiling fan on, in a clockwise direction will help circulate warm air back towards the lower parts of the room. Hot air rises, so by switching on your fan will ensure this warm air is pushed back down to where it should be – warming you up!
8. Layer Your Blankets – Fluffy blankets should be closer to your skin, with dense blankets on the outside to help prevent convective heat loss. This can be an efficient way to keep warmer in bed, when the heating may be switched off.