Groundbreaking UK Energy Research Uncovers Simple Heating Adjustments
As Britain endures another bitterly cold winter, millions of households face mounting anxiety about heating costs. A comprehensive consumer study by Barratt Homes reveals that nine out of ten UK residents worry about affording their energy bills during the coldest months, with two-thirds resorting to extreme measures like heating only single rooms to manage expenses.
Revolutionary Findings from Energy House 2.0
Researchers at Energy House 2.0, Britain's largest energy research facility located at the University of Salford, have spent the last eighteen months rigorously testing various heating systems and insulation methods. Their mission: to identify the most effective strategies for keeping homes warm while minimising energy consumption and costs.
The Single Most Effective Free Method
The research team discovered that adjusting your boiler's flow temperature represents the most significant opportunity for immediate energy savings without any financial investment. Most UK boilers operate with standard flow temperatures between 70°C and 80°C, but reducing this to 60°C can decrease gas consumption for home heating by an impressive 12%.
How to implement this change: On combi-boilers, locate the dial or buttons marked with a radiator symbol, which typically controls flow temperature. Simply reduce the setting or program a lower temperature. While radiators may feel slightly less hot to the touch and rooms might take marginally longer to warm up, properly insulated homes will notice minimal difference while achieving substantial savings.
Essential Boiler Maintenance
Your boiler remains one of the most critical appliances in any household, providing both hot water and central heating. Annual servicing, preferably scheduled during summer months when heating engineers have lighter workloads, ensures both safety and maintains warranty validity. A typical combi-boiler service costs approximately £90 and includes comprehensive checks of internal components, filters, flue pipes, and efficiency measurements.
Important note: Even a minor 5% reduction in boiler efficiency can add around £87 to annual energy costs. During servicing, engineers can also adjust your flow temperature if you're uncertain about making changes yourself.
Insulation: The Long-Term Solution
Proper home insulation represents a crucial defence against heat loss, particularly in older UK properties. Homes constructed before the 1920s often feature solid walls without any insulation, while modern new builds must comply with current building regulations and can be up to 65% more energy-efficient.
Oliver Novakovic, innovation chief at Barratt Redrow who collaborates with Energy House 2.0 researchers, explains: "The large number of poorly insulated, older homes across the country causes significant stress for residents as winter approaches." Official statistics show 60% of English homes have wall insulation rated "average" or above, with Scotland at 69% and Wales at 52%.
For loft insulation, mineral wool remains the optimal choice, costing approximately £1,000 in detached properties but delivering annual savings of around £340 for detached homes and £200 for semi-detached properties according to consumer organisation Which?
Smart Draught-Proofing Techniques
Contrary to popular belief, effective draught-proofing doesn't mean completely sealing a property but rather maintaining controlled ventilation. Some airflow remains necessary to prevent condensation and dampness that can lead to dangerous mould growth, particularly in moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Novakovic recommends using a smoke pencil draught detector (available for under £50) to identify air leakage points. Common problem areas include letterboxes, disused chimneys, doors, window frames, and loft hatches. For older hardwood doors that expand and contract with temperature changes, draught exclusion runners along the bottom and gap sealers around frames prove particularly effective.
Simple Curtain Solutions
The research revealed that drawing standard curtains or blinds can reduce heat loss through windows by 10-30%, creating a pocket of still air that functions as basic additional insulation. This proves especially valuable in properties with single-glazed windows or radiators positioned beneath windows, where warm air tends to travel directly up the glass and escape outdoors.
Future Heating Technologies
For households considering longer-term investments, Energy House 2.0 has conducted Britain's most extensive study of electric heating systems as the nation prepares to phase out gas boilers. Their research indicates that Air Source Heat Pumps can cost as little as £1.84 on a typical winter day to heat a property and maintain steadier temperatures than traditional gas systems.
Protecting Plumbing Systems
Frozen pipes present serious winter risks, potentially causing burst pipes and expensive plumber's fees. The most reliable prevention method involves insulating pipes in lofts and around water tanks using foam pipe insulation or insulating wraps for awkward bends. Novakovic advises: "Insulating your pipes doesn't have to be expensive and can be done as a DIY job. Just ensure you know your pipe measurements and avoid flammable materials."
The comprehensive Barratt Homes study, involving 2,000 participants, provides valuable insights into household energy-saving behaviours and confirms that simple adjustments can deliver significant financial relief during challenging economic times.
