1. Turn Down the Thermostat
This is the golden rule of energy saving. Reducing your thermostat by just one degree can cut your heating bill by an estimated 10% [1].
The recommended comfortable temperature for healthy people in winter is around 18°C [2]. Aim to set your heating to the lowest comfortable temperature you can manage. Remember to turn it down further or off entirely in rooms you aren’t using, and overnight.
2. Banish Draughts
Heat easily escapes through gaps around windows, doors, and even keyholes. Sealing these draughts is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
- Door Seals: Use inexpensive, self-adhesive foam strips to seal gaps around door frames.
- Letterboxes & Keyholes: Fit a letterbox brush and a keyhole cover to stop cold air getting in.
- Chimneys: Use a chimney balloon if you have an open fireplace you don’t use [3].
Draught-proofing materials are widely available at hardware stores and can be a DIY job for most people.
3. Maximise Radiator Efficiency
Ensure your radiators are working as hard as possible to heat your room, not your walls.
- Bleed Radiators: Air pockets can prevent radiators from heating up properly. Bleeding them releases trapped air, improving efficiency [4]. You only need a radiator key, which costs a couple of pounds.
- Reflective Panels: Place reflective foil panels behind radiators on external walls to bounce heat back into the room instead of letting the wall absorb it [3].
4. Timing is Everything: Use a Programmer/Timer
Heating your home when you’re out is a waste of money. Use your central heating programmer to set the heating to come on only when needed—for example, warming up the house shortly before you wake up and again before you get home from work [5]. Many modern thermostats also learn your routine, further optimising usage.
5. Don’t Block the Heat
Avoid placing large furniture like sofas or wardrobes in front of radiators. This blocks the heat from circulating effectively into the room, meaning your boiler has to work harder to reach the desired temperature [5].
6. Leverage the Sun (and Curtains)
Use natural heat sources whenever possible. Open curtains and blinds during the day to let sunlight warm your rooms. As soon as the sun goes down, close them to provide an extra layer of insulation and trap the heat inside [6]. Thermal-lined curtains offer superior insulation.
7. Layer Up
Before reaching for the thermostat, reach for a jumper, a pair of thick socks, or a blanket. Layering clothing is a simple, effective way to stay warm personally without increasing your home’s energy consumption [7].
8. Service Your Boiler
An inefficient boiler can cost you dearly. Get your boiler serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure it is running safely and at peak efficiency [3]. A well-maintained boiler uses less energy to heat your home and is less likely to break down when you need it most.
9. Check Your Insulation
Proper insulation is crucial for keeping heat within your home. Ensure you have adequate loft insulation (ideally 270mm of mineral wool) and consider cavity wall insulation if your home is suitable [3]. While these have an upfront cost, they offer substantial long-term savings and drastically improve your home’s energy performance certificate (EPC) rating.
10. Be Smarter About Hot Water
Heating water accounts for a significant portion of your energy bill.
- Ensure your hot water cylinder has a well-fitting insulation jacket (which costs around £20 and is easy to fit) [3]. This keeps the water hot for longer.
- Take shorter showers. Swapping one five-minute shower a day for a standard bath over a year could save you around £100 a year on your energy bills [7].
Implementing even just a few of these tips can significantly reduce your energy usage and heating bills, helping you stay warm and financially secure this winter.
