The professional home organiser shares some top tips for making your bedroom more energy efficient during the colder weather
We all want to be as warm and cosy as possible during the winter months, especially in bed. The good news is that it’s possible without a big rise in energy bills. Small, low-cost tweaks can help you stay comfortable with less worry about costs.
Professional home organiser and TV personality Dilly Carter has some top tips to help us all get our homes ready for winter.
“At night, you don’t want to be spending money on heating the whole house, so warm your bed instead,” says Dilly.
“Swap to a winter duvet or add an extra blanket if you can. An electric blanket will warm your bed up before you get in and as you nod off, and most modern versions will turn off once you’re asleep.”
And beyond the bed? “You can also add some relatively cheap, thicker lining to your existing curtains to help with insulation,” Dilly advises.
“Avoiding heat escaping from your house is one of the best things you can do to cut energy costs.”
Staying on the topic of heating, she adds, “Make sure you’ve bled the radiators in all of your rooms so you know they’re giving out as much heat as they can. It also makes sense to use your heating timer. Just take time to ensure it’s programmed to only be on for the hours when you really need it.
“Most modern houses will warm up within half an hour and stay warm for about half an hour once you’ve turned the heating off. So work out how long your house needs to warm up before you set your timer.”
“It’s important that heat is able to circulate effectively. That means moving any furniture that’s blocking radiators. Hanging clothes on your bedroom radiator can block heat from your room, too.”
“There are so many simple ways to keep your home warm this winter, a lot of which cost nothing or very little.”
One of the easiest ways to feel more in control of your energy costs this winter, says Dilly, is to get a smart meter installed.
“It’s probably the simplest place to start. If you can see how much energy you’re using, and when, you know where you might be able to cut down.”
They are installed at no extra cost by your energy supplier, and their simple display shows you how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence.
Dilly adds: “You don’t have to make big investments in energy-efficient tech; just taking care of some of the basics really helps.”
Get a smart meter or contact your energy supplier to find out more.
Eligibility may vary, and smart meter display and figures are for illustrative purposes only.
