Home Bargains is offering shoppers a way to stay warm at home this autumn and winter without relying on central heating, with a heated throw that costs just pennies an hour to run.
The Winter Warmer Electric Heated Soft Ribbed Plush Throw is available in stores and online for £29.99. It features six heat settings and advanced heating technology that provides even heat distribution across the throw, according to the product description. The blanket is machine washable after detaching the controller and comes with a reusable storage bag. It is made from 100% polyester with 200 gsm coral fleece.
How much does it cost to run?
Measuring approximately 130cm by 160cm, the ribbed fleece blanket is large enough to wrap around you completely while sitting or lying down. Because it focuses 100% of its heat directly on your body rather than warming the empty air, walls, and unoccupied rooms in a house, it allows you to stay warm without relying heavily on your central heating.
Based on standard UK energy rates, the blanket costs roughly 2.6p to 3.2p per hour at its highest setting. In contrast, running a gas central heating system typically costs between £1.20 and £2 or more per hour.
This means you can run the electric blanket for over 40 hours for the exact same energy cost as turning on your central heating for just a single hour. Because the blanket features six adjustable heat settings, you can turn it down once you are warm, reducing running costs to well under 2p an hour.
Can it help keep energy bills down?
Using this blanket can cut your monthly energy bills through a strategy called "heating the human, not the home." Turning your main house thermostat down by just 1C can slash your heating bill by about 10%.
If you lower your thermostat by a few degrees and use the electric blanket to stay warm instead, you can easily save £30 to £45 a month on gas. Even if you use the blanket for six hours every day, it will only add about £5-£6 to your electricity bill for the entire month, making it a smart, highly budget-friendly way to get through the colder seasons.
