Are you using unnecessary energy?
Over half a million UK households never turn off their heating, even during the summer, according to new research.
The survey of 2,000 people found that a third also leave the heating on all night during winter.
So as we approach winter, it seems that there are still opportunities for us to save money and energy this winter, even though many people are making great efforts to cut costs and increase energy efficiency.
The research, conducted by Calor, found that despite more than half of us having rooms in the house that aren't used regularly, only a fifth turn off radiators in those rooms. In total, half of UK households have at least one room that is heated even though no one uses it.
There is an alternative option - two fifths of us now own a portable heater, which can be a great solution for keeping energy bills down as they can be used to just heat the rooms being used most regularly - rather than just running the central heating for the whole house.
Gaynor Willmott from Calor says: "Some UK consumers are paying far more for their heating bills than they need to, but it's important to remember that heating is not 'one size fits all' - there are a variety of heating options beyond your standard mains energy.
"For the people who only use a few rooms in their home, portable heaters are an ideal options to 'pay as you go' and only heat where you are, which should help make sure there are no nasty big bill 'surprises' at the end of a cold snap.
"Our study shows that the majority of us - 46 per cent in fact - reach for the thermostat in October, so we recommend that everyone undertakes their own home 'winter service' before the cold weather kicks in to maximise the energy effiency of the property and potentially save on bills."
Calor’s home ‘winter service’ checklist:
1. Get your boiler serviced – households can increase energy efficiency by replacing out-dated and inefficient boilers for new A-rated energy efficient boilers which not only help reduce bills but also minimise the home’s carbon footprint.
2. Check your insulation – good insulation is an extremely effective way of helping to keep heat inside your home and this will be passed on to your fuel bills. If your home was built after the 1930s then you probably have cavity walls so insulating them is vital. Loft insulation can help reduce your fuel bills even further. You can buy insulation from any DIY store and it is easy to lay yourself – just make sure that it’s laid under power cables so they remain visible.
3. Mind the gaps – make sure your heating is not being wasted by gaps in doors, windows or floorboards. Double glazing is very effective and reduces heat loss through windows by up to 50 per cent. Use seals or brushes on exterior doors, while covering letterboxes will keep out unwanted drafts.
4. Get a heater health check – make sure your gas portable heater is in tip-top condition for the winter. Checks highlight any visible defects within your heater to give you reassurance that it is working safely and efficiently, especially if it has been stored away all summer.
Tagged in Home energy efficient