If I Followed the Energy Saving Advice Every Year

Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree, and insulate your loft

Two wind turbines
Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash

When energy prices rise, the same advice seems to be rolled out again and again. Two common suggestions are:
  • Turn down your thermostat by one degree.
  • Insulate your loft.
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with these ideas — I’m sure they will help save energy, and potentially reduce CO2 emissions.

So what’s the problem?

If I followed the advice every time I heard it, then by now:
  • My thermostat would be set to -30.
  • My loft would be so full of insulation, that there wouldn’t be room for anything up there — not even my Christmas decorations and suitcases.

On a more serious note, I do understand the need to take climate change seriously.

It’s just that I’m old enough to have heard most of the energy-saving tips before. And when you’re sitting in a cold house while paying a large proportion of your income for gas and electricity, it gets a bit annoying.

* * * * *

This Old House

Sadly, my dilapidated old house doesn’t take well to things like cavity wall insulation. As long as air can circulate, there are no major damp problems. But if the cavity were to be filled, I know it would need a new damp proof course.

My gas boiler is over 30 years old. But to replace it with a modern one would mean switching to a combi boiler, which would lead to retiling the bathroom and kitchen, not to mention new radiators… Not financially viable.

Also, I have solid floors which are extremely cold, with no insulation under them. But it would be very expensive to excavate and replace them all.

Hopefully, one day I’ll be in a position to move to a more modern house. It’s so much better when buildings are designed with energy efficiency in mind, right from the start.

* * * * *

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