Any energy saving tips?

LippyDoodle

Ah, thanks for clearing that up! 

Jasonsmith13

If you all didn't realise 80% of the energy goes straight through your windows so having interlining lining on your curtains will save you 35% on energy cost. Average cost of a pair of interlined curtains is say £800 so would be a 3 year pay back on your curtains which would last 20 years plus ..Large Savings to made.

TheBanker

I changed my bedroom curtains from un-lined ones to lined ones and it's made quite a difference. The other thing is to close the curtains before the temperature drops outside, to keep as much heat in the room as possible. If I forget and don't draw them until bed time, the room's noticeably colder than if I draw them before sunset. 

I've also put a lined curtain over the front door. It's always been cold near the front door, and the previous owner must have had a curtain up as there was a rail in place. So hopefully that will help a bit too. 

facade

TheBanker said:

I changed my bedroom curtains from un-lined ones to lined ones and it's made quite a difference. The other thing is to close the curtains before the temperature drops outside, to keep as much heat in the room as possible. If I forget and don't draw them until bed time, the room's noticeably colder than if I draw them before sunset. 

I've also put a lined curtain over the front door. It's always been cold near the front door, and the previous owner must have had a curtain up as there was a rail in place. So hopefully that will help a bit too. 

Curtains do help a lot.

In The Olden Days people always had a thick curtain (often made from a patchwork of old woollen clothes) over the door that led upstairs and the one to the front room.

Astria

Jasonsmith13 said:

If you all didn't realise 80% of the energy goes straight through your windows so having interlining lining on your curtains will save you 35% on energy cost. Average cost of a pair of interlined curtains is say £800 so would be a 3 year pay back on your curtains which would last 20 years plus ..Large Savings to made.

Agreed, but if you close the curtains, make sure they are BEHIND the radiator - some people still have them in front thinking "it looks nice" but don't realise then that 80% of the energy is going into the window and not the room.

k_man

Jasonsmith13 said:

If you all didn't realise 80% of the energy goes straight through your windows so having interlining lining on your curtains will save you 35% on energy cost. Average cost of a pair of interlined curtains is say £800 so would be a 3 year pay back on your curtains which would last 20 years plus ..Large Savings to made.

80% seems a very high (and specific) number.
Internet searches suggest the figure is typically 10- 20%
Citation for 80% please.

TheBanker

k_man said:

Jasonsmith13 said:

If you all didn't realise 80% of the energy goes straight through your windows so having interlining lining on your curtains will save you 35% on energy cost. Average cost of a pair of interlined curtains is say £800 so would be a 3 year pay back on your curtains which would last 20 years plus ..Large Savings to made.

80% seems a very high (and specific) number.
Internet searches suggest the figure is typically 10- 20%
Citation for 80% please.

It must surely depend on the windows. I can believe 80% f we're talking about badly fitted single glazed windows. For modern double (or triple) glazing, it's no as easy to believe. 

TheBanker

facade said:

Curtains do help a lot.

In The Olden Days people always had a thick curtain (often made from a patchwork of old woollen clothes) over the door that led upstairs and the one to the front room.

Thinking back I remember my grandparents having a curtain over the door to the hallway where the stairs were. Never realised that was why. 

Spoonie_Turtle

We had to get rid of curtains in a few rooms because they kept going mouldy   the front door still gets condensation on the inside, but this year we're going to see if we can put a curtain back up without it touching the door.  I even thought about putting a cheap shower curtain as a waterproof layer between them but it would be easier if we don't have to.

Miser1964

Microwave veg such as peas in a bowl just covered by water rather than heat in a saucepan 
Fill empty spaces in freezer with used milk bottles filled with water
Plan ahead and open freezer door only once a day
Use dehumidifier in the autumn after showering, a damp house is a cold house
Install auto-closers in jamb of internal doors to avoid heating entire house
Buy a combined microwave/grill/over to reduce cooking costs
Set a 'house rule' of max 5 mins in the shower
Wear woolen socks, slippers, undershirt and pullover to retain body heat