During the colder months of the year we all think of ways to keep ourselves warmer, whether it is putting on an extra jumper or making sure the heating is on before we get out of bed in a morning. But what about keeping our home warmer in the first place, without heating bills going through the roof and carbon emissions sky rocketing?

In the first instance there are some very easy ways of fending off the cold winter air, and these won't cost the earth! Firstly, check your heating system is working properly before the cold weather sets in. Think about getting a service for your complete system and especially the boiler if you have central heating (and if you havn't, it might be a good time to think about getting it), as you don't want to be wasting energy due to an inefficient system. Secondly, turn down your thermostat by 1°C, which will save you a great deal of energy and about 10% of the cost of your annual heating bills. (And you can always put that extra jumper on)! If you have thermostats on individual radiators, think about which ones really need to be turned on. If a room is not in general use, does it need a radiator blasting out heat?

Another cheap way of reducing heating bills is to ensure that your home is draught proofed. You're not trying to heat the garden, so keep the heat inside your home by blocking off unnecessary gaps, but don't forget that ventilation is important so never block up air bricks. Insulating your home will also really help to reduce your heating bills and save a great deal of energy. Both loft and cavity wall insulation are relatively easy ways to keep the heat within your four walls and won't cost you a fortune.

Once you have instigated these relatively low cost energy saving measures, it might be time to think about some further investment into heating your home efficiently. Double glazing is quite commonplace nowadays, but if you don't have it, it is certainly worth considering. Whilst this can be quite expensive, you could save up to £100 a year and 680 KG of carbon dioxide emissions.

All of these energy saving measures will certainly keep you and your home warmer during the winter months, saving energy and money and reducing your carbon footprint. So don't wait for the first frosts, think about what can be done to keep your home warm now.

About the Author

Hayley Jones is the Web Marketing Director for UK Energy Saving, http://www.uk-energy-saving.com. For more information on heating your home visit the following page http://www.uk-energy-saving.com/insulation.html.