How to live without heating - save £000s

wrf12345

For me, if I start to get cold in the evening (usually only half an hour CH in the morning) I do ten to thirty minutes on a cross-trainer (can be found for free on FB marketplace if u can collect) and that warms me up for a few hours, probably going to have more effect on older people with poorer circulation. Time goes quite quickly if doing this when watching TV or to music.

HertsLad

wrf12345 said:

For me, if I start to get cold in the evening (usually only half an hour CH in the morning) I do ten to thirty minutes on a cross-trainer (can be found for free on FB marketplace if u can collect) and that warms me up for a few hours, probably going to have more effect on older people with poorer circulation. Time goes quite quickly if doing this when watching TV or to music.

@wrf12345 Could you please give an indication of what you are wearing and what the room temperature is in the evening.

QrizB

Here's a few more off-gridders:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvqr4v6539o

jvjack

Yes they are off grid but not off heating their houses. Only saying incase someone only sees the tail end of this thread.

QrizB

jvjack said:

Yes they are off grid but not off heating their houses. Only saying incase someone only sees the tail end of this thread.

One of them is in their 80s and sleeps under four duvets, though!

jvjack

Yes. It says  'She also piles on the layers, sleeping under four duvets.

And  "I'm as warm as toast and I keep on the fire all night."

Hertslad is altogether different and I know you know that. Was just saying incase anyone read this last page only.

HertsLad

QrizB said:

Here's a few more off-gridders:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvqr4v6539o

Interesting, but nobody has ever contacted me to contribute to an article like that! I live in the middle of a housing estate built in the 1980s, so my situation is probably more relevant to far more people, if they live in built-up areas, rather than out in the wilds, somewhere. It's also quite easy to find inaccuracies in the reporting. The man from the second case study said: "You're always going to have your (electricity) connection charge anyway so you'll never get a bill of zero, but it's taken our bills down roughly about 75 to 80 per cent," he said. Wrong! My electricity bill has been zero for a couple of years. I am waiting for tariffs to be re-introduced with zero standing charge, said to be expected by the end of 2025. I may then start using a bit of mains electricity again for appliances which use too much power to risk using them on my solar system, e.g. welding equipment.

I met up with some old friends of mine at the weekend, for the first time in around 20 years. They had no idea I live without heating and were as shocked as  most of you. One of the first questions was the same as on this thread: "Do you have any visitors?". The lady said she heats her side of the bed on maximum with an electric blanket for about 10 mins every night and couldn't get her head around my approach of getting into bed without any heating at all. Also, I bet their bedroom is heated to at least 18C whereas mine was 6C last night and can go as low as 1C. I'm not brave and I don't have any kind of immunity against feeling cold. It's all based on what I wear, including when I climb into bed.

Max68

QrizB said:

Here's a few more off-gridders:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvqr4v6539o

Interesting article although must confess I would be really interested to know if she has home insurance because of the candles and paraffin lamps along with a thatched roof!!  

hardergamer

I'm wondering how Hertslad is doing. It would be cool for an update.

wrf12345

Lots of people grew up going to bed in unheated rooms, pre-duvets but with lots of blankets, now in their late sixties onwards and possibly "enjoying" reliving their youth. It is kind of a generational thing to react to the blatant rip-offs of the energy companies by refusing to contribute to their greed but not wanting to break the law by not paying their bills. Having said that, the £200 contribution from the government for WFA means the CH will be running two radiators for three months for an hour or two a day, and my free electric blanket will be powered up for thirty minutes before bed on the really cold nights, though I will still be starting each day with a cold water shower - and it is freezing for the first few seconds even now. My thermometer often showed sub zero temperatures but that was just because it was seventy-odd years old and knackered, my  new Aliexpress one is a bit more reassuring. All good fun.