1.7m UK Households are not Turning on Their Heating this Winter
A survey by comparison site Uswitch shows that more than 1.7 million households will not turn on their heating this winter. Since last year, only 972,000 people reported taking such drastic measures.
A quarter of pensioners put it down to the loss of winter fuel payments, despite it posing a health risk, as the reason they wouldn’t heat their homes.
Argos website searches for hot-water bottles have increased by 257% over the past year, while searches for heated blankets have increased by 224%.
Uswitch’s energy expert, Elise Melville, said: “Cold weather can be challenging for households trying to cut their energy bills, but living in a cold house can be hazardous to health.”
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Purchasing heated clothing can save businesses a great deal of money, according to Johanna Lueders, director of Snugel’s heating solutions division.
Our customers have saved £100 per month on winter heating bills thanks to our heated blankets and heated vests,” she noted. “Even if you consider the initial investment in a heated garment, you will still save a great deal over time.”
Upon moving into their Kent house in 2020, Ben and James invested in thermals, hot water bottles, hoodies, and onesies.
Winter gear that was once considered excessive has become a “godsend” due to rising living costs and soaring energy prices, according to him. The family will try to keep costs low by avoiding turning on the heating for as long as possible this year.
Rather than heat the entire house, Janette, who is retired, is planning to turn off the heating for as long as possible.
Previously, this place had only electric heat, and I found it to be too expensive, so I installed a gas fireplace. There is a huge difference in cost,” she said. The living room is small, so that’s what I’m going to use during the winter.”
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Every time her daughter stays over, she puts out a “micro space heater” to keep her warm and prevent mold growth.
When she gets into bed, she places hot water bottles within reach of her. Her friend gave her an electric blanket to stay warm.
As she watched television, the blanket plugged in and covered her. You can use it anytime you want.
However, your face gets cold when you are cold, so it’s still a problem if it snows.
My body will get cold, and I need to stay warm. As a result, I might have to spend more on heating, so I can’t do other things.”
Keeping the thermostat between 18C and 21C is best for households even when saving money, Melville said.
Over one in six (17%) households are planning to lower their thermostat settings to save money, while one in twelve (8%) plan to go down to 16C or below.
“Electric blankets are a good way to keep warm and are a lot cheaper to run than electric heaters,” Melville said. You can also get hours of warmth by boiling a kettle of water and placing it in a hot water bottle.
“Plenty of fixed energy deals on the market are cheaper than the October price cap.” Fixed deals offer homeowners additional price certainty because they lock in rates for a fixed period.”
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