As winter approaches, everyone desires to keep warm and cozy without breaking the bank on energy bills. Making small, cost-effective adjustments can enhance comfort while reducing financial concerns.
Renowned home organizer and television personality, Dilly Carter, offers valuable insights for winterizing our homes. She suggests focusing on warming the bed at night instead of heating the entire house. Switching to a winter duvet, adding an extra blanket, or using an electric blanket can create a cozy sleeping environment without excessive heating costs.
In addition to bed preparations, Carter recommends enhancing insulation by adding affordable, thicker linings to existing curtains. Preventing heat loss from the house is crucial for energy efficiency and cost savings.
Regarding heating systems, Carter advises ensuring all radiators are bled to maximize heat output. She also emphasizes the importance of using a heating timer efficiently to heat the house only when necessary, considering that modern homes warm up quickly and retain heat for a period even after the heating is turned off.
To optimize heat circulation, Carter suggests rearranging furniture that obstructs radiators and avoiding hanging clothes on bedroom radiators, which can hinder heat distribution.
Carter emphasizes that there are numerous straightforward and low-cost methods to keep homes warm in winter. She recommends installing a smart meter as a practical step to monitor energy consumption and identify areas where energy usage can be reduced. Smart meters, provided by energy suppliers at no extra charge, display energy consumption in monetary terms, aiding in cost management.
Carter concludes by emphasizing the significance of addressing fundamental aspects of energy efficiency rather than investing in expensive technologies. Smart meters offer a simple yet effective tool to track and manage energy usage, contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to home heating.
Please note that eligibility for smart meter installation may vary, and the figures displayed on the smart meter are for illustrative purposes only.