How to live without heating - save £000s 10 February 2022 at 11:59AM edited 24 February 2022 at 4:10PM in Energy 777 replies 76.8K views

HertsLad

elsien said:

I’m curious as to how the OP dries their laundry in winter? A normal winter, I mean, with rain, snow, frost etc? 

Good question and here's the answer - I use a spin dryer to remove most of the water after rinsing. Then I hang the damp garments inside the house at whatever the (low) temperature is. The drying time depends on the fabric, so polyester base garments will be dry within 24 hrs and pure cotton shirts within 2 or 3 days. If I need something dry within an hour I hang it in a wardrobe with a dehumidifier inside. 

HertsLad

wittynamegoeshere said:

Is this thread a wind-up?

You'd need a balaclava with eye-holes to be comfortable at 2 degrees C while resting, plus enough lagging that you couldn't move your arms. 

You couldn't be more wrong. I have never needed to wear a balaclava at 2C and, as I said before, the clothing I wear is not restrictive at all. I have worn a balaclava on a few occasions when skiing, e.g. on a chairlift on a cold morning, and especially on some peaks when the temperature can be as low as -20C.

MovingForwards

I recently lost my last parent due to pneumonia, and other things, as they believed they couldn't afford to cook warm food more than a couple of times a week, or afford to put the heating on. Having seen the bit of money they had saved, and how much they were not spending from their SP and PC they could have been comfortable and possibly lived for a few more years, warm inside and out.

Recommending turning heat down a bit, adding an extra jumper and blanket, while eating and drinking warm things is standard but I won't sit in a freezing property, nor would I suggest anyone does, especially for those of us with health issues.

This is coming from someone who has only lived in properties with DG for just over 5 years and GCH for about 3.5 years. 

jvjack

Crikey Hertslad . you are one hell of an Extremist. You seem to have taken this to the enth degree. I shiver when putting bins out.
No one should follow your way mind you. Youre agenda is known only to you or even you dont understand it.
However you doing what you are doing always leads to discoveries. Wish you wouldnt do it  though or make others think its a good idea.
Would like to know your thoughts on radiant heat. Body heat goes to cold surfaces known as comfort heat. No thermometer measures that.
Do those clothes stop that.

JGB1955

wittynamegoeshere said:

We eat fresh meat and veg cooked in various ways.  Perhaps we'd need one if we lived on pies, oven chips and other junk but for us we're not going to bother.  

So... you don't bulk buy meat?  Bulk cook meals?  My freezer is currently full of bulk buy meat from our local butcher (chicken, pork, beef, etc etc) and frozen portions of pre-cooked chilli, lasagne, chicken and leek pie, etc etc.  We also have portions of partridge/pheasant to eat.  There are two of us - we have 3 freezers.  Only one has pizzas and oven chips in.  Frozen vegetables are as healthy as fresh.  I think you're missing a trick (or two).

Armengar

how do you plan on removing the mould spores? Once those take hold then you are going to pay more to get the infestation removed  Even an overpressure system with lightweight fan wont prevent this.

Swipe

Armengar said:

how do you plan on removing the mould spores? Once those take hold then you are going to pay more to get the infestation removed  Even an overpressure system with lightweight fan wont prevent this.

The OP said he didn't have any mould

HertsLad

Swipe said:

Armengar said:

how do you plan on removing the mould spores? Once those take hold then you are going to pay more to get the infestation removed  Even an overpressure system with lightweight fan wont prevent this.

The OP said he didn't have any mould

That's right, unless it's present but not obvious. Can you use anything like a UV lamp to help reveal mould? Or detection via air samples? Also, after 11 years with no heating, I've suffered no health issues yet, unless I am already doomed but with no symptoms. Many people will refuse to believe this but the temperature has now dropped to 9C and I feel as warm as I would be in the summer.

Catplan

HertsLad said:

That's right, unless it's present but not obvious. Can you use anything like a UV lamp to help reveal mould? Or detection via air samples? Also, after 11 years with no heating, I've suffered no health issues yet, unless I am already doomed but with no symptoms. Many people will refuse to believe this but the temperature has now dropped to 9C and I feel as warm as I would be in the summer.

I have followed this with interest, I live alone and whilst not going to these extremes, my heating would come on if house hit 12, however, I have noticed, I start to get a cold nose, hands at around 14 when I work from home which is sat typing. Same if I was sitting watching tv, or reading. I tend in the main to avoid heating on during daylight, I usually need in the evening, I layer maybe not to the extend you do. I do turn up thermostat and remove a layer when I have visitors. Typically I find 18 is comfortable however I’ll turn up to 22 when I get visitor’s.

QrizB

Swipe said:

Armengar said:

how do you plan on removing the mould spores? Once those take hold then you are going to pay more to get the infestation removed  Even an overpressure system with lightweight fan wont prevent this.

The OP said he didn't have any mould

And anyway, everybody has mould spores. Mould spores travel on the air and are all-pervasive unless you live in a sterile clean-room.

Trying to eliminate mould spores is pointless.