Central heating is the number one source
of heat for Britons in winter. Most heating systems will run around the clock
for the months of October to April when the weather finally starts to warm up
enough. Across the UK, around 65{50875b531a969c277cbb2ec21164da90f863514ff193b31f077cca337f638d5b} of household energy is spent on house
heating. This, in turn, means that energy consumption for the average house in
the UK is their biggest expense.
Reducing the amount which is spent on
heating will not only make things a little easier for homeowners but will also
reduce the carbon footprint for the home. According to Neil Davy, insulation specialist at Pipelagging,
around 15{50875b531a969c277cbb2ec21164da90f863514ff193b31f077cca337f638d5b} of households in the UK cannot afford to keep their home warm during
the cooler winter months. “The rising cost of living and increased prices
of utilities, has made it almost impossible for the poorest in the country to
afford basic heating”.
Here are a few simple ways, every home
can keep warm this winter
Insulate
Walls
Walls are a fundamental part of every
home design and they also make a crucial contribution to maintaining home
temperatures. It is important to consider the financial saving for your home if
you install proper wall insulation. Not only will your home be warm in winter
but it will be cool in summer. Wall insulation, while expensive at the onset
will pay off after the first winter when you are saving money on heating bills.
Curtains
Natural heating from the sun is free.
You need to make sure that you make the most of every little bit of natural
light entering your home. At night, when it gets dark, you need to close the
curtains to keep the heat from escaping. Curtains are invaluable in keeping
your house warm in winter and cool in summer because they act as a natural
insulator.
Timers
If you must make use of central heating
you need to make sure that you program your boiler to switch on at a certain
time and then off again. It is advised that you only make use of the heating in
your home at times when you are home. There is really no use in letting your
heating system run during the day when you are not home. Similarly, you do not
need the heating in your home while you are asleep. Set your boiler to start up
around 30 minutes before you get out of bed in the morning. This way you will
be cutting down on the time your boiler is in use and also making the most of
the boiler while it is in use.
Roof
insulation
Did you know that the average home will
lose around a quarter of the heat created from central heating through the
roof? This means that a quarter of the money spent on heating during the winter
months is wasted. To avoid this sort of wastage, it is advised that you install
adequate roof insulation. Roof insulation is affordable, long-lasting and
hard-wearing. You will not need to replace the insulation regularly, making it
real value for money.
