Easy ways to keep warm with less energy

With an expected 54% increase in energy bills from 1st April 2022, what can individuals do to minimise the impact of these cost pressures? Cutting our use of gas and electricity at home improves UK energy security and helps to keep prices low for everyone. 

Following an insightful talk from Karen Igho of PECT about fuel poverty and the services PECT provides, the Cambridge Transition energy group pooled experiences on energy saving at home. Here are some easy, low cost or no cost, wins we have found useful. 

• Lower the radiator temperature (if you have a condensing boiler)
• Get moving
• Wrap up warm and/or use heated clothing
• Only warm the room you use the most
• Share your home

Lower the radiator temperature

If you have a condensing gas boiler, consider lowering the flow temperature (at which it feeds the radiators) to around 55 degrees C - pretty hot but not too hot to touch. Much hotter than that can be dangerous anyway. The lower the flow temperature, the cooler the return going back to the boiler. This allows a condensing boiler to work more efficiently. If you set the flow temperature to 55 degrees C, the return should be about 35°C and you can gain up to 8% more efficiency without any loss of comfort. Lower still would be even better but you may find the radiators do not work so effectively. The Heating Hub has guidance on how to do this. 

Get moving

Many of us end up sitting for long periods indoors, whether working or resting and it is then we tend to get cold. Introducing some movement into your routine through gentle walking or skipping or any other exercise that you enjoy is not only good for your health, but also warms up your body, so you can turn the heating thermostat down and not feel cold. Turning down the thermostat even by 1°C could save up to 8% on your space heating energy.

Wrap up warm  and/or use heated clothing

A battery heated jacket - the square button is the on/off
switch and the battery goes in an inside pocket.

In addition to layering up with traditional warm fabrics (wool, cashmere, padded jackets), you can also consider getting an electric jacket that works in a similar way to electric blankets. These can be particularly helpful for people who are unable to generate as much body heat as they used to. Nicola's beloved absolutely loves his battery-heated jacket - he is never seen without it these days! It requires very little power as it is heating you directly. 

Only warm the room you use the most but keep to safe temperatures

If it is safe to do so, consider only (or mainly) heating the room(s) that you use the most. For healthy adults, 18°C is fine; for the elderly, or those with certain health conditions, 21°C would be safer. Electricity is more expensive than gas but the gap is narrower than before. You can save money if you heat less than a third of your home with electricity rather than the whole space with gas central heating. 

Electric fan heaters, if carefully selected, can be a good way to top up heat in a space that you use often. A 500W heater is usually enough for one room with doors and windows closed; it should take only 15 minutes to get comfortably warm. (That would use 0.125 kWh so less than 4p). Nicole's elderly Mum enjoys using her little heater on days when she needs an extra boost of warmth. 

Share your home

If you have the space, and it is safe for you to do so, consider sharing your home with others, whether they are extended family, foreign students or refugees. By just having more people in the same space, you reduce the energy use per person - and many people find the experience very rewarding. Ian is considering welcoming Ukrainian refugees into his home. 

Reducing our energy demand benefits us in many ways

Of course, there are many other ways that we can invest in future-proofing our homes, from minimising heat loss through insulation, to generating our own energy, enough to cover our own use. Room heating is usually the biggest use of energy in our homes but it is not the only one; hot water is another, cooking too and electrical appliances can use more than you might think. Some solutions require up front capital and careful planning. However, energy saving is not just a short term issue. In the short and long term, reducing our energy demand: 

• Reduces bills 
• Reduces environmental impact 
• Improves national energy security as we have to import less fossil fuels.
• Insulating and draught proofing homes improves comfort and health.

Other sources of help

The Transition Cambridge Energy Group welcomes new members who wish to share their experiences or problems. We like to learn from each other. Check the events page for the next meeting or contact Nicola. Or browse our energy advice pages including our personalised advice tool. Also there are other brilliant organisations that can provide energy advice. For general advice, including saving on all types of home energy, Cambridge Carbon Footprint has excellent suggestions and Uswitch has more than 100 Energy saving tips. Reducing water consumption saves on your water heating bills and is good for the environment in other ways too - Cambridge Water has support for local residents.

If you are worried about your bills and you live in this area, you can ask PECT for specific advice, potentially including home visits In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau has advice on managing your energy bills, reading meters and so on. OFGEM explains how to get onto your energy supplier's Priority Services Register which gives extra support in case of power cuts, or other help.

This post was co-authored by Nicola T. and Nicole D.