Remember the amount your house is heated is exactly the amount of heat dissipated to the outside world, if you lived in a perfectly insulated house you need only heat it up to temperature once, ever!
Easy cheap and effective interventions:
Draft proofing is cheap and effective around doors and windows strips come in rolls and are very cheap to buy (99p)
Close internal doors to prevent draughts through the house
Use the timer settings to heat the house when you are in and to go off 30 mins before you leave or go to bed
Open the curtains on sun drenched windows, even in winter a sunny day can significantly warm the room
Remember to draw the curtains at dusk to help keep the stored heat in
As a student household you may be entitled to free cavity wall insulation even if you rent and your landlord will love you for it! (Google ‘free cavity wall insulation’ for more info).
Free your radiators make sure they are not obstructed by furniture or general clutter
Get together in just one house with your mates and have a study party
Cuddle up more on the sofa
Persuade your pet to sit on your lap
Sleep together
Really, close the windows in cold weather
Might take some effort or money but worth it
Consider installing pelmets to slow the convection currants which draw air across the cold windows
Invent in some thick well fitted curtains that hang from the window ledge
Check your loft is insulated; this is a big win and can directly save you 30% on your heating bills. Your landlord might be happy for you to install this and subsidise the rent with the cost of materials.
Check any hot water tanks and surrounding pipes are lagged
Ask your landlord to service the boiler
Invest in some thermal underwear (a great Christmas gift request your Mum will love!)
Invest in some woolly jumpers (also great seasonal prezzie)
Invest in some lounge room blankets to snuggle into whilst watching movies
Use two hot water bottles – one for your feet and one for your belly!
Running an electric blanket is cheaper than heating the whole house in the late evening; get an early night and stay toasty warm in your bed.
Consider changing your energy supplier to a more environmentally friendly one like Good Energy or a cheaper supplier is easy and can be done online.
Stay warm people!
