Keep warm this winter

Thursday, 13 November 2008

As we come up to the winter season, concern once again turns to the elderly at the prospect of a period of cold weather.

elderly. This year’s campaign aims to help older people maximise their income by improving their energy efficiency and making sure they get the benefits they’re entitled to.

Their “3 steps to a warmer winter” consist of a free pack (which can be downloaded from the Help the Aged website, or obtained by telephoning for one) detailing how to CHECK that people are doing everything they can to keep warm and cut costs; to CLAIM the benefits they are entitled to; to INSULATE by finding out if they are eligible for free insulation and other methods of energy efficiency.

A home can be kept warm without incurring huge gas or electricity bills by ensuring that a home is energy-efficient.

One key factor is the amount of insulation. Much heat in a home is lost through the roof as heat rises. Heat can be preserved by insulating the loft, and cavity wall insulation also helps to keep the heat in the house. British Gas has a Help programme, and other energy providers also have schemes which may help pensioners get their home insulated for free.

Thermostat control helps to regulate temperatures in a house, and can save on otherwise unnecessary running of a heating system.

A central heating system should be checked for efficiency at least once a year. Again, gas or electricity suppliers may offer free checks for over 60s.

Windows are a place where heat can be lost. Double glazing cuts this down, but can be expensive. Plastic sheeting attached to a window frame does a job, and curtains help to insulate windows too. Curtains should be made to fall behind radiators, to keep the heat in the room.

A front door can be draughtproofed with a well-fitting curtain, but safety should be key: loose draught excluders can easily be tripped over. Draughtproofing strips can be fixed to windows, to the bottom of doors, especially external where most heat is lost.

Water tanks should be protected with a special jacket to slow down heat loss and keep water at a high temperature for longer. A cold water tank should also be insulated to stop it from freezing in cold periods.

  What's this?