WITH a string of storms battering the UK and temperatures dropping, it can be a hard to resist the temptation to turn up the heating.
But rather than risk yet another fight about cranking up the thermostat – which means higher energy costs and more pressure piled on family budgets – why not try a simple trick which could save you £100s on your bills?
One easy fix you might not have thought about is adding blinds to your windows, in addition to curtains or shutters, according to Tiffany Mealiff, energy comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk.
She told The Sun: “Blinds can be a great energy-saving investment. In the winter, these coverings can trap the air between the blind and the window, building up a warm layer.”
This, she adds, prevents heat escaping from your rooms.
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“Blinds can really help keep homes warm during the colder months,” she said.
“Research shows they can have a significant impact on energy savings, and are estimated to reduce heat loss through windows by a huge 33%.”
These were the findings from research by the University of Salford’s Energy House laboratory, commissioned and funded by the British Blind and Shutter Association.
And before you start worrying that this is yet another big expense to have to budget for, Tiffany is quick to point out that buying a blind doesn’t need to break the bank.
You can find ‘quick-fit’ blinds which are really affordable, and some options cost less than a tenner.
On Amazon, you can buy basic ‘thermal easy-fit stick-on’ blinds for £8.49 - Buy Here.
Equally, if you choose quick-fit blinds with a ‘honeycomb’ design, this acts as a great insulator, preventing cold air from entering and warm air from escaping.
You can also find this type of stick-on blind on Amazon, for around £30 - Buy Here.
As investing in blinds will make your home warmer, you could turn your thermostat down by one degree, saving you around £100 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Not only will blinds help save you money in the winter, but they can help keep your rooms cool in the summer, too.
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“This means you can save on air conditioning and electric fan costs,” said the energy-saving whizz.
“Blinds are a great way to save money on bills all-year round.”
Even if you don’t rate yourself as much of a DIY pro, this shouldn’t hold you back, as the beauty of quick-fit blinds is that you don’t even need a screwdriver or a drill, as they are self-adhesive.
All you need to do is cut to size and stick using the double-sided tape – with no holes, and no damage to your walls.
Tiffany added: “Just be careful there is appropriate ventilation, as there’s a risk that mould could build up if there’s no fresh air circulating regularly.”
Another upside of using blinds, according to Tiffany, is the fact they reduce glare.
“This means you can still keep a certain amount of natural sunlight coming into your house,” she said.
“This should reduce your reliance on additional lighting sources – saving you even more money on your energy costs.”
All in, you can potentially save £100s on your energy bills by investing in blinds.
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While wooden blinds will also keep your home warm during the winter months – and can be more stylish and contemporary – they will be more expensive.
Tiffany added: “No matter what type of blinds – or curtains – you have, you need to get into the habit of closing them in every room as soon as the sun sets.
"This will prevent warm air from escaping out of the cold windows, meaning less energy will be needed to heat your home in the evening.”
At the same time, be sure to leave your curtains or blinds open during the day when it’s sunny, as this could help keep your rooms warm – even in the winter – without you having to turn on the heating.
Fitting blinds is just one of a host of tips that Tiffany has come up with to help keep a lid on energy bills.
“Our gas and electricity costs have already started to rise after the price cap increase in January,” she said.
“It means many of us will be forking out more than ever on essential bills.”
The latest change to the price cap has seen the bills for the average household go up from £1,834 to £1,928 per year, a rise of £94.
Tiffany added: “This is hitting consumers hard. We are all searching for ways to save.”
Another top tip from the energy aficionado is to make sure you look after your radiators.
“Regular maintenance will help to cut your energy bills when turning on the heating,” she said.
“Try turning radiators down to between 2.5 and 3 in the rooms you aren’t using. This could save you around £70 a year.”
Tiffany also recommends getting into the habit of bleeding your radiators regularly.
“This lets out air pockets which could be making your heating less effective,” she said.
“This is a simple job you can carry out yourself.”
Remember that if your radiator is under a window, drawing curtains across it will mean some of the warm air goes straight out – instead of heating the room.
To prevent this from happening try tucking them along the windowsill.
As an added bonus, this will mean they also act as a draught excluder.
If you’re replacing existing ones, you ideally want to have curtains sitting between 2cm and 4cm over a radiator.
Thermal curtains can boost energy savings even further. As well as curtains, also ensure your furniture isn’t blocking radiators.
“This can prevent heat from spreading efficiently,” said Tiffany.
“A well-placed sofa or chair can make a big difference to the feeling of warmth without overspending on heating.”
While you’re thinking about your radiators, Tiffany recommends making use of thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs).
Many homes already come with TRVs but thousands remain unaware of how they work.
They let you control the temperature of each radiator individually. If you don't have them already, you can pick them up for as little as £7.48 from Toolstation.
“Turning heat down in unused parts of the house using a TRV can help create savings,” she said.
“But be careful not to turn the heating off completely or you could leave yourself at risk from damp and mould.”
Aim to turn the heat on for at least 30-60 minutes a day, or leave it on a constant low setting.
