During winter, our energy bills can soar out of control and it can be a struggle to keep the home warm and toasty. Here’s some tips for how you can help to keep a lid on climbing gas and electricity costs when the cold snap arrives, and they needn’t cost the earth!
Little changes can make all the difference
Whilst the government recommends temperatures of 21°C (70°F) for your living room and 18°C (64°F) in the bedroom, it’s often tempting to turn the heating up much higher! According to the Energy Saving Trust, you could save a whopping 10% (circa £55) on your heating bills by simply turning your thermostat down by just 1°C! To make an additional saving, turn down radiators in unused rooms and ensure that the curtains throughout your home are fully lined with a heavy material to keep the heat in overnight.
Heat rises
Did you know that without loft or cavity wall insulation, you could be losing a quarter of your home’s heat through the roof? Any expense incurred in insulating your home could potentially pay for itself after just one or two years, and in many areas you could receive a subsidy or even get it for free!
Mind the gap
One of the cheapest and most effective ways to keep your home warm is by eliminating draughts from windows or under doors – and could save you between £25 and £50 on your heating bill per year! Little fixes are all you need to make a real difference – such as heavy duty curtains, draught excluders and the all-important keyhole and letterbox covers!
Keep your fixtures and fittings warm
You can reduce the amount of heat lost from pipes, tanks and radiators by fitting lagging – which will significantly reduce the cost of heating water in your home and hot water will stay hotter for longer. Fitting a British Standard jacket around your hot water cylinder can reduce heat lost by up to 75%, and could save you around £25 to £35 per year!
Get shower savvy
Newer high-power showers can actually use as much water within five minutes as it takes to fill a bath! For around £25, you can buy an energy-efficient shower head that will reduce the amount of water used but will still leave you invigorated as you step out of the cubicle – and potentially save up to £75 a year on your water bill.
Located in Devon, Somerset, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Barton Park Homes’ parks offer peace, comfort and security in tranquil locations within easy reach of the local towns and public transport.
The build and specification of our park homes is second to none, meeting or exceeding the relevant standards and come fully furnished and ready for you to enjoy all year round – with mains electricity, cosy gas central heating, water and BT phone lines.
We use high-quality insulation in the construction of our homes, ensuring that they are energy efficient, and all doors and windows are fitted with low-emissivity glass. And during winter months, we work with our residents to ensure that everyone’s comfort and safety is ensured by ensuring excellent maintenance of communal areas, such as keeping paths, drives and car parks clear and gritted.