31 Oct Energy and Autumn Mists, October 2025

Welcome to autumn

When we all traditionally think of mists, mellow-fruitfulness and…turning
the heating on. If you’re concerned about rising bills or keeping your home cozy as the
nights draw in, then there are some simple things you can do that will make a difference
immediately.

As a qualified energy advisor, the first thing I suggest to people is to check they’re not
heating empty rooms by turning those radiators down to ‘frost’ or completely off. I know
people worry about damp and mould but as long as you keep the doors to unused rooms
shut they shouldn’t gather condensation.

Then it’s important to check that you’ve set up your heating and hot water to work for you,
rather than just to boost the profits of the energy companies. Check the flow temperature of
your boiler – the control will be on the front of the boiler itself. Set it at 60 degrees because
any hotter and you’re just creating a scalding hazard when you run the hot tap. Also check
your heating thermostats; usually setting the overall temperature to around 20 degrees
during the day and 15.5 degrees at night is plenty warm enough. Remember this season is
what higher tog duvets, big jumpers and those fluffy slipper sox were invented for, so dig out
your woollies for indoors, because there’s no reason why your home should be the same
temperature as Bondi beach in October.

Once your heating is working well for you don’t waste energy by letting it escape – draw your
curtains and check for draughts around doors and windows. A simple clear plastic draught
excluder strip, a bit like sticky tape, can be applied easily to gaps without ruining your
decorating style and can make a big difference. It’s also worth benefiting from solar gain,
because even in the winter the sun can warm your home from the outside in, so open the
curtains during the day if it’s sunny – sparkling winter light is a great pick me up too.
Finally, if you know there are areas of your house that never warm up, or draughts you just
can’t beat, consider having a thermal survey or energy assessment of your home that can
identify solutions. These will show you where you have insulation (and where you don’t),
where the thermal bridges within the walls or ceiling are conducting all your lovely heat into
the garden, and even perhaps what your radiators are heating the most – don’ t be surprised
if in fact you’re heating the street outside.

SaveEnergy is a local, community-based business working across Maidenhead and
surrounding areas. For more information email kit@saveenergy.coop.