Brits fight it out in the 2010 heating war
As many as one in three people (33 per cent) argue with their family about whether to turn the heating on, with a fifth (20 per cent) admitting they get irritated because someone else switches it on before they want to, according to research from moneysupermarket.com. The angst continues as just over a tenth (13 per cent) admit to arguing with family or housemates because they want to turn the heating on sooner than everyone else.
The research also found more than 24 million prudent adults would rather wear extra layers this winter than turn the thermostat up. Interestingly, the most cautious and frugal age group is the 18 to 34 years olds - over half (52 per cent) say they'd rather wrap up warm instead of reaching for the thermostat dial, and regionally the South West takes top spot for most likely to layer up (61 per cent).
Scott Byrom, energy manager at moneysupermarket.com said: "The 2010 heating war is on, with Brits all over the country arguing about whether to turn the heating on this year. There is no doubt many of us will be worried about an expensive energy bill landing on the doormat in January; so reaching for a jumper or putting on some extra layers might seem like a good option if the chill factor isn't too high. It is concerning however that people are so worried about how they are going to pay for their bills they are having second thoughts about turning the heating on.
"Energy consumption is at its highest over the winter months, on average we use around 40 per cent of our annual fuel consumption between November and January.3 Taking action to combat the cost of fuel bills will be a savvy move for many bill payers this year, and with Energy Saving Week almost upon us (25 - 31 October), now is the time to be thinking about your energy usage and ways to reduce your consumption.
"While there is still time ahead of the core winter months, consumers should look to switch to the best deal possible to ensure their winter bills are kept to a minimum. Those looking to "fix" should look at Ovo Energy's 'New Energy Fixed' tariff at £993 a year which offers fixed rates for 12-months from the date of sign-up. Alternatively, those looking for the cheapest variable deal on the market should consider EDF Energy's 'Online Saver v7' tariff at £867 for the first year when you factor in the £100 'Welcome Bonus' which is available until 30th November; moving to this deal could save bill payers over £300 a year if switching from a standard tariff.6
"Bucking the recent trend of price increases, First Utility have recently reduced the cost of their best online option. iSave v5 is now the second cheapest deal on the market behind the EDF product. This is good news for consumers as it shows there is still chance to grab a good deal on their energy bills."
moneysupermarket.com's top tips to minimise your gas and electricity bills:
Turn your thermostat down - now. By reducing your room temperature by just 1°C you could save an astonishing 10% on your annual heating bills.
Switch off and save. Don't leave electrical appliances on standby as it still uses power. Make it a nightly ritual to ensure all lights and appliances are off and watch those savings mount. For example, leaving your computer on 'sleep' means it is still using 75% of its energy.
Almost 25% of heat is lost via poorly insulated roofs. Invest in insulation - it is cheap and effective. What is more, many free grants are available from local councils for pensioners and those on low incomes.
Heating the whole house is justifiable for a large family but for working couples and singles, it is more cost-effective to heat only the rooms you use most. Invest in a low energy heater.
In the winter months, it pays to close all your curtains as soon as dusk sets - they keep the heat in and are one of the simplest and easiest ways of cutting back on heating bills.
Change to energy saving light bulbs. You can save up to £40 over the lifetime of the bulb.
Invest in a microwave oven. They are fast and efficient particularly for small families and singles and use a fraction of the energy of a conventional gas or electric cooker.
Watch out for draughts around doors (keyholes, letter boxes, gaps in doors and windows). Heat escaping your home is money wasted, so get yourself kitted out. Draught excluder packs are available from most DIY stores and for as little as £60. It is estimated that good draught exclusion around an average terrace can save as much as £25 a year, so it will soon pay for itself.
Double-glazing is pricey to install but will make a difference to bills over time. Heat loss through windows is cut by a whopping 50% - saving around £100 a year on bills.
Don't fill your kettle each time you go to make a coffee or cup of tea - only use the water you need. It will be quicker to boil and use less energy. It's a simple tip but makes a difference.
Take showers and not baths. While a hot bubble bath may feel like a treat, the cost of heating the water soon mounts up. A shower uses around a third of the water of a bath.
If you use a washing machine turn the temperature down to 30°C. Today's washing powders are so efficient they do not need to be used at high temperatures. Even better, get into the habit of hand-washing and just using your machine's spin function. It saves both time and money.