After a dry, hot spring and summer, and mild autumn, the winter weather may feel like a shock. We have campaigned for better insulation, an important environmental and inequality issue, as saving energy is. There are various things that people, households and communities can do to stay warm and save energy.
Doors
- Curtains over external doors
- Fit foam, or wiper strips where there are gaps in the doorway
- Draught excluder or door snake – can be simple to make at home, especially with recycled materials
- Well-insulated external doors
Windows
- Curtains – made thicker with lining, or double sets of curtains
- Search for gaps in window frames (paper width or more isn’t sealed)
- Window seals around frames and film over the glass
- Double-glazed windows
Radiators
Tuck curtains behind or above radiators to keep heat in the room- Put a radiator reflector behind radiators
- Turn down the temperature in rarely-used rooms, thermostatic radiator valves are good for this, smart heating systems are even better
- Bleed radiators regularly – twice a year
Insulation
- Insulate pipes and water heaters
- Loft insulation
- Internal insulation (can be DIY)
- Cavity wall insulation (usually post-1930s) or solid-wall insulation (usually 1930s or earlier)
Heating
- Get a boiler check
- Check the pressure, should be between 1-2 bars to be efficient
- Set a timer and use a thermostat
- Get a smart heating system to set temperatures and times
Community
- Share energy-saving and draught-reduction info with family, friends, neighbours, and your community
- Make a door snake or curtain linings for people you know.
- Volunteer at a local warm welcome space
- Join/start a community group making/collecting door snakes, curtain linings, radiator reflectors for people with draughty homes
