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Keeping doors closed will also help trap
heat
How is the saving worked out: CAR’s study
found that homes with radiator valves are
likely to have partially adjusted them so
that rooms outside the main living area are
already 1.5°C cooler. However, reducing the
temperature by a further 1.5°C could save
5.5% of the total gas bill (a saving of £68 in
winter 2022). Its modelling found that 76% of
UK homes could save with this measure.
5. Draught-proofing doors, windows,
chimneys and floors could save you up to
£215
Poorly insulated homes lose heat more easily
and are harder to keep warm.Draught-proofing
is one of the cheapest and most effective
ways to save energy.
To stop cold air getting in and heat escaping,
consider:
 adding draft-proofing strips around doors
and windows
 adding strips along the edges of external
doors and a brush at the bottom
 installing a letter-box cover
September 2023
 using sealant to close gaps between
suspended floorboards and skirting boards
 adding a chimney draft excluder to unused
chimneys
But do not block extractor fans, wall vents
and airbricks. These are necessary for
ventilating certain rooms (like your kitchen and
bathroom).
The cost depends on which areas you want
to draught-proof and how you want to do it. A
professional draught-proofing service could
save more energy. The Energy Saving Trust
has further advice.
How this saving is worked out: The saving
is based on a typical three-bed gas heated,
semi-detached house using a gas price of
10.3p/kWh and electricity price of 34.0p/kWh.
The Energy Saving Trust’s figures are based
on the government’s methodology for energy
modelling in homes.
Note: All savings figures are based on a
typical gas-heated home in Great Britain with
an annual usage of around 12,000 kWh of
gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity, using a gas
price of 10.3p/kWh and electricity price of
34.0p/kWh (based on Energy Price Guarantee
October 2022).
Combining all measures could potentially
save a typical household £530 per year,
according to Nesta/CAR/Energy Saving Trust
calculations. Due to the potential for double
counting, this is less than the £625 total of
adding up each individual measure in this
article. There are dangers in overly severe
energy rationing - underheated and damp
homes come with health risks.
BBC News
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