Now that the colder weather is setting in, many Brits will have decided it's time to turn the central heating back on. However, energy prices are significantly higher this year than in previous years meaning you could face paying eye-watering sums for your winter bills if you're not careful.
Heating your home can contribute to a significant chunk of your energy bills, so you might be looking for ways to stay toasty while also saving money. Thankfully, that doesn't mean keeping the heating off entirely.
By setting your thermostat to a sensible temperature, you might find that you pay less for energy than you're expecting, while still staying warm, the Mirror reports. More than half of homes were heated to a higher temperature than needed last year.
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Experts at the Energy Saving Trust recommend heating your home to between 18C and 21C this winter. According to the trust, turning your thermostat down by just 1C can save up to 10 per cent on your yearly energy bills.
A study by Uswitch previously found around 17million homes in the UK set their thermostat above 20C - which is much hotter than many people need. How warm your home needs to be will of course depend on individual circumstances. For example, children, the elderly and people with health conditions may need a warmer home than others.
The World Health Organisation suggests 18C is a good temperature for healthy people, and 20C for the elderly or young people. For sleeping, experts say 18C is the best temperature.
Charity Age UK says the elderly, who are at particular risk from low temperatures, should heat their main living area to 21C, with the rest of their home at 18C.
If a room is less than 9C, it can cause hypothermia, according to British Gas. If a room is below 12C, or above 24C, it can raise the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
According to research, nearly one in four adults plan to leave their heating off all winter due to high energy prices.
The Government's Energy Price Guarantee came into force on October 1, meaning that the average household will pay around £2,500 a year for their energy. Many will pay more or less than this depending on their use.
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