Making your home more energy efficient this winter
For anyone browsing Crazish, here is a clear starting point on the subject.
Most heat leaves an ordinary home through draughts, thin curtains and an uninsulated loft, and all three are cheap to fix. Draught strips around doors and windows, a brush on the letterbox and thick curtains closed at dusk make a noticeable difference in a weekend. Topping up loft insulation to the recommended depth pays for itself within a few winters.
Set the heating to come on only when people are home and lower the thermostat by a single degree; the comfort difference is small and the saving is not. Bleed radiators, keep furniture clear of them and use a thermostatic valve to turn down rooms you rarely use. A smart meter or a plug-in monitor shows which habits really cost money, which is the fastest way to change them.