Energy saving tips for winter

As the temperatures drop down and long winter nights creep in, the warmth and cosiness of our homes become absolutely essential. But is there a cost-effective way to keep your home nice and warm without sending your energy bills through the roof?

In this blog, we’ll explore some useful, heat saving tips for winter to keep you warm while protecting your wallet. From easy day-to-day habits to clever DIY fixes, these tricks will help you get through the chilly weather without giving up on your comfort.

Jump to:

Layer up to save energy in winter
Choose cosy bedding
Use a thermostat and timer
Turn down radiators in less used rooms
Tackle draughty spots
Cook smart
Let the sun in during the day

Layer up to save energy in winter

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to stay warm indoors is to layer up with cosy clothing. From long-sleeved tops and warm sweaters over thinner layers to thermal socks and plush slippers, you might be surprised how much warmth you can retain by simply dressing in multiple layers, especially when you’re relaxing on the couch or working from home. Wearing lots of thin layers can help keep you warmer as they trap warm air between, acting as insulation.

What’s more, investing in comfortable, cold-weather loungewear can make a significant difference and keep you warmer at night without relying on your heating system.

Choose cosy bedding

Alongside bundling up in multiple layers of clothes, it’s important to equip your home with warm, cosy bedding and blankets, providing you with extra comfort during the chilly winter nights.

Just as you layer up with clothing, add extra blankets, throws, and quilts to your bed, contributing to both the visual appeal and practical warmth of your bedroom. It is also a good idea to swap out your regular sheets for flannel ones, as this soft, brushed texture will provide you with an extra layer of insulation.

For extra cold nights when the outdoor temperatures drop to freezing levels, consider adding an extra layer of warmth by using hot water bottles or electric blankets. While consuming just a small amount of energy, these items can be great companions to get you through the winter chills, adding an extra touch of comfort to your living space. To make sure you use these heating devices safely, visit our blog on Tips to safely keep warm this winter. 

Use a thermostat and timer

While turning up the thermostat seems like an obvious solution for winter chills, it often leads to skyrocketing your energy bills. If you have a programmable thermostat, take advantage of its features to create a customised heating schedule. For instance, set it to automatically lower the temperature when you're out or asleep, and increase it when you're at home.

Similarly, when you’re at home, find a comfortable temperature that suits everyone in your household. By making small adjustments, such as wearing a thick sweater or using blankets, you can compensate for a lower thermostat setting and save a significant amount of energy over time. Dropping your thermostat by just one degree (as long as it’s still at or over the recommended minimum of 18℃) has been found to save, on average, up to around £130 a year. 

Turn down radiators in less used rooms

Similar to adjusting the thermostat, paying more attention to the radiators around your home can help you lower the utility bills during winter.

Whether it’s a spare bedroom, a conservatory or an office, there might be rooms at your home that are not used as frequently and get less foot traffic. Closing the radiators in these rooms or adjusting them to work at minimum output can help you direct more heat to the 
rooms you occupy the most, ensuring that you're optimising your heating system's efficiency.

Make sure that you also close internal doors to these rooms, so that you keep the warm air in the rest of the home more contained.

Tackle draughty spots

Winter is known for biting cold and howling winds, sneaking through the smallest gaps around your doors and windows into your home. Regardless of how tiny they are, these gaps can be significant sources of heat loss, causing your heating system to work harder than necessary.

So, before the winter season fully takes over, make sure to inspect your home properly and identify any draughty spots that need fixing. These may include:

• Window and door frames
• Ventilation ducts and fittings
• Pipes and plumbing penetrations
• Access to attic and basement
• Crawlspaces
• Exterior walls’ cracks

Once you’ve examined all the gaps and cracks around your home, make sure you take appropriate steps to seal those areas. One of the easiest and most cost-effective solutions is weatherstripping, which means applying adhesive foam strips to the surroundings of doors and windows, preventing cold air from entering your home.

Similarly, placing draft stoppers at the base of doors can help create a barrier against the winter breeze and prevent your indoor temperature from dropping.

And finally, you might also want to consider using insulating window film or thermal curtains, as they can both help keep the indoor temperature at a comfortable level without the excessive use of a heating system.

Read our comprehensive guide to draught-proofing your home and get additional helpful tips for your home while you’re getting ready for winter. 

Cook smart

The kitchen is the heart of your home where all the tasty magic happens. While the kitchen and its appliances are generally one of the primary consumers of electricity, when used efficiently, they can also generate a significant amount of heat when in use that can contribute to the overall comfort of your home.

These are some of the helpful tips to strategically use the energy in the kitchen:

• Utilise your oven to release heat into your kitchen and the rest of your home, when safe to do so
• Cover pots with lids to accelerate the cooking process
• Plan meals ahead and batch cook if possible
• Try the slow cooking method, as it uses a smaller amount of electricity while heating your food steadily
• Use an electric kettle with just the right amount of water to boil more efficiently

If you want to learn more about smart cooking, read one of our recent blogs on How to save energy when cooking.