One of the questions that people have is how much of a difference a degree can make. As winter approaches, people are turning on their heating. It is common for most people to spend more time at home than usual. However, would increasing the temperature by one degree prove to be costly? It is something that you are likely to want to know. At oil and fuel distributors in Shropshire we can provide the facts.

The Facts

According to data obtained from Uswitch.com, two in three households in the country are setting their heating at more than 20 degrees Celsius. However, just one degree can help them save money while also allow us to reach climate change targets. The fact is that close to 2.7 million households set their central heating system temperature at 25 degrees Celsius or even more. Research reveals that tweaking the central heating system by just a degree can help one save up to £80 a year on heating costs. If households who set their thermostats over 20 degrees Celsius made such a change, it would offer savings worth £1.4 billion.

Generally, it has been found that younger people prefer being warming with 21 percent of 18 to 24-year olds stating that they prefer the temperature at home at 25 degrees Celsius or more in comparison to 3 percent of 55-year olds or older. Age UK has revealed that older people prefer keeping the temperature at home around 21 degrees Celsius. However, there are around 60 percent of over 55-year olds who state that they set the room thermostat at 20 degrees Celsius or more. To make sure that your home is energy-efficient, we here at oil distributors Conwy think that you should do the following.

1. Reflect on Your Home Heating Usage

One of the things that you should do is reflect on your home heating usage. Higher temperatures at home are the biggest contributor to carbon emissions and require one to pay higher energy bills. Even though keeping warm during the winter is important as most of us spend time indoor, it is important that we think about the impact of our home heating usage. For instance, you should avoid heating empty rooms and switch off the heating during the warmer parts of the day. Besides, a blanket or an extra jumper might prove to be a cheaper and more efficient option.

2. Insulation

Another thing that you should consider is insulation. Insulating your hot water tank, having double glazing and draught proofing installed can help prevent cold air from entering your home and reduce heat loss. Moreover, you can easily do these on your own.

 3. Install Heating Controls

Lastly, if you have radiators that have traditional valves, it might be a good idea to consider fitting TRVs (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) as they provide greater control over the temperature settings and allow you to set the right temperature at the right room. You should consider using modern gadgets like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat and the Google Nest Thermostat E to reduce your heating bills by understanding your movements and patterns and adjusting the heating accordingly.