Stay warm this winter
Helpful hints and tips to help you stay warm and save
Now that we are in the midst of winter, with days and nights feeling much colder, we thought we would share some helpful hints and tips on how to stay warm and save money whilst also reducing your environmental impact.
 Top tips for staying warm
- Close curtains as early as possible
- If you do not have curtains up, put some up
- Put up thick, lined curtains.
- Seal out any draughts
- Close room doors so radiators only have one room to heat
- Thermostatic radiator valves measure the temperature of the room not the water in the radiator. If you struggle to keep downstairs warm, close doors and turn down the upstairs radiators to 3 and turn downstairs radiators up.
Top tips for saving money
- Don’t use your thermostat as the on/off switch for your heating. Set your heating programmer so your heating is only on when you need it.
- Every half a degree higher costs more money, so heat to the lowest temperature. 18 degrees for the fit and healthy. 18-21 degrees if you find it harder to keep warm.
- If you have a separate electric hot water tank. Set the programmer if you have one, don’t leave it switched on all the time.
- Don’t leave the heating on for pets (they can keep warmer at lower temperatures than people)
- Buy heating oil through a collective purchasing scheme e.g. Lincolnshire Community Oil Buying scheme, Boilerjuice…others are available.
Government grants for insulation and new boilers
If you own your own home or rent from a private landlord, and meet certain criteria, you could be eligible to have your home insulated and/or a new boiler fitted by Eon Energy. See their website for further details and to make an application. You don't need to be an Eon customer.
If you are an EDF energy customer, they are offering their own customers insulation and new boilers to replace broken ones. You can find out if you are eligible and request a call back on their website.
NKDC Customer Services can also check if you are eligible and transfer your call straight through to the energy supplier who provides the scheme you appear eligible for.
If you are advised that you will have to pay towards the cost of installation, and you cannot afford this, contact Customer Services again to see if you are eligible for NKDC’s Financial Assistance Policy.
The Money Saving Expert website has an up-to-date list of all the energy suppliers offering this funding and their eligibility criteria.
Under our duty to try to improve housing and tackle fuel poverty, the Council is constantly working to ensure more residents access government grants, but it does not currently offer any grants itself. However, residents are always welcome to call our Customer Services Team if they need any support or advice on 01529 414155 or sustainnk@n-kesteven.gov.uk
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