This is Lincolnshire -- After a warm summer, autumn has come round suddenly, with a significant and unseasonal drop in temperatures. The average September high in England is around 17 degrees - today in Lincolnshire it is only 11. Though autumn is still officially a fortnight away, householders have been tempted to switch their central heating on early this year. So if you are to add an extra few weeks' usage onto your gas and electricity bills at a time when utility prices are higher than ever, how can you keep warm while saving the pennies? The Energy Saving Trust believes that many people have their thermostat set higher than it needs to be - they advise turning it down by just one degree and to experiment until it reaches the lowest level at which you still feel warm. Reducing the temperature by just a single degree could save you up to £65 a year. Other tips from the Trust are:- - Wear jumpers, socks and slippers around the house, and put an extra blanket on the bed so you won't be tempted to turn the heating up. - Heat your home with cooking. Leave the oven door open after cooking to let the heat warm your kitchen. The oven might give off enough heat for you to adjust your thermostat. - Compare gas and electricity prices with uSwitch to make sure you're on the cheapest tariff for you. It only takes a few minutes, they do all the paperwork for you and you could save up to £458. http://www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/free-energy-saving-tips/ Energy provider British Gas also has some handy hints on how to make the most of your central heating. - Don't put a large item of furniture, such as a sofa, in front of a radiator, as this will absorb heat. - Put draft excluders around windows and doors - this could save you £25 per year. - Use thermal or heavy curtains during the winter and close them at dusk. This will help stop heat escaping through the windows. - Install cavity wall insulation - it could save you around £135 a year. Loft insulation can also knock another £175 off your bills. - Fit double glazing to reduce heat loss through windows. - Try to limit electric showers to 10 minutes or invest in a shower monitor to keep an eye on how much hot water you're using. While savings site Moneysavingexpert.com has a section which busts popular home-heating myths - advising you to install thermostat valves on individual radiators to better regulate temperature. And painting your radiators black won't help them retain more heat! And remember, if you're elderly, disabled, or in poor health, many local and national charities can help you stay warm in winter by providing you with free portable heaters, thermal clothing, and even hot drinks. Lincolnshire County Council will put you in touch with services in your local area.
Reported by This is 2 days ago.
This is Lincolnshire -- After a warm summer, autumn has come round suddenly, with a significant and unseasonal drop in temperatures. The average September high in England is around 17 degrees - today in Lincolnshire it is only 11. Though autumn is still officially a fortnight away, householders have been tempted to switch their central heating on early this year. So if you are to add an extra few weeks' usage onto your gas and electricity bills at a time when utility prices are higher than ever, how can you keep warm while saving the pennies? The Energy Saving Trust believes that many people have their thermostat set higher than it needs to be - they advise turning it down by just one degree and to experiment until it reaches the lowest level at which you still feel warm. Reducing the temperature by just a single degree could save you up to £65 a year. Other tips from the Trust are:- - Wear jumpers, socks and slippers around the house, and put an extra blanket on the bed so you won't be tempted to turn the heating up. - Heat your home with cooking. Leave the oven door open after cooking to let the heat warm your kitchen. The oven might give off enough heat for you to adjust your thermostat. - Compare gas and electricity prices with uSwitch to make sure you're on the cheapest tariff for you. It only takes a few minutes, they do all the paperwork for you and you could save up to £458. http://www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/free-energy-saving-tips/ Energy provider British Gas also has some handy hints on how to make the most of your central heating. - Don't put a large item of furniture, such as a sofa, in front of a radiator, as this will absorb heat. - Put draft excluders around windows and doors - this could save you £25 per year. - Use thermal or heavy curtains during the winter and close them at dusk. This will help stop heat escaping through the windows. - Install cavity wall insulation - it could save you around £135 a year. Loft insulation can also knock another £175 off your bills. - Fit double glazing to reduce heat loss through windows. - Try to limit electric showers to 10 minutes or invest in a shower monitor to keep an eye on how much hot water you're using. While savings site Moneysavingexpert.com has a section which busts popular home-heating myths - advising you to install thermostat valves on individual radiators to better regulate temperature. And painting your radiators black won't help them retain more heat! And remember, if you're elderly, disabled, or in poor health, many local and national charities can help you stay warm in winter by providing you with free portable heaters, thermal clothing, and even hot drinks. Lincolnshire County Council will put you in touch with services in your local area.
Reported by This is 2 days ago.