How to live without heating - save £000s

GingerTim

On the other hand, courtesy of Asthma and Lung UK (https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/cold-weather):

Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of respiratory infections.

EssexHebridean

According to the abstract of the study referred to on that “SelectHealth” site the study looked at the benefits of cold water immersion, and at 14°C at that. It also seems to suggest that the benefits come from the increased metabolic rate due to increased shivering. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8925815/ so possibly not quite the situation you are in?

HertsLad

GingerTim - I am lucky not to have caught as much as a common cold since 2019, and certainly not Covid or any infection.

EH - I have never shivered, even on occasions when my hands used to sometimes get cold before I added extra layers, especially on my legs. This winter has been much better because I have been wearing two layers of base thermals and down trousers every day I have been at home since November. Previously, I may have thought I could overheat but it's not been the case, even when the house was around 13C for quite a long time.

EssexHebridean

HertsLad said:

GingerTim - I am lucky not to have caught as much as a common cold since 2019, and certainly not Covid or any infection.

EH - I have never shivered, even on occasions when my hands used to sometimes get cold before I added extra layers, especially on my legs. This winter has been much better because I have been wearing two layers of base thermals and down trousers every day I have been at home since November. Previously, I may have thought I could overheat but it's not been the case, even when the house was around 13C for quite a long time.

Yes - that’s partly my point - the study indicates that it is shivering which would potentially be beneficial, and in particular circumstances too, not just living in a cold environment. It immediately struck me that it didn’t apply to your circumstances because you’ve always stated that you never actually felt cold.

GingerTim

HertsLad said:

GingerTim - I am lucky not to have caught as much as a common cold since 2019, and certainly not Covid or any infection.

Same here!

But the point is that routinely breathing in very cold air is, generally speaking, not good for your respiratory system, but especially for those with underlying health conditions.

HertsLad

GingerTim said:

But the point is that routinely breathing in very cold air is not good for your respiratory system, but especially those with underlying health conditions.

If that's true why are there not warnings against jogging or even walks in winter time (for hours at a time) or skiing (for quite a few days)? Still worse, mountaineering somewhere like Everest or living in polar regions. I agree about underlying health conditions probably making it unwise.

jvjack

Interesting above.

Did you find out this
Hertslad said  few months ago "There is also the mains gas powered warm air heating. You have reminded me it hasn't been fired up for a brief test for a few years. Maybe it no longer works! I need to find out."
I had a sort of chill for 3 days not covid and needed immediate heat. You never know. Just checking but probly not needed as you mentioned convector heater as well.

HertsLad

Jvjack - thank you for reminding me. Gas fired heating still not tested. And I would be highly reluctant to use any electrical powered heater because I am only a few weeks from surviving a year without using any mains electricity, at which point I will see if my energy provider will stop the standing charge.

I also have two further heating devices but neither have been tested yet. (1) a diesel heater and (2) a gas heater which runs on butane gas canisters. Both of these were bought with a view to heating the bathroom, before I found it's not too difficult to survive 5 or 10 mins without heating, apart from the hot water, of course.

Anthear

Bonkers.  I have a number of layers on my mid-section - two body warmers and thick scarf and am still cold.  To keep my legs warm would have to wear ski trousers and even then, I think I would struggle.  I don't heat to anywhere near 20 degrees - 17 is pushing it but any colder is miserable, in my view.

HertsLad

Anthear said:

Bonkers.  I have a number of layers on my mid-section - two body warmers and thick scarf and am still cold.  To keep my legs warm would have to wear ski trousers and even then, I think I would struggle.  I don't heat to anywhere near 20 degrees - 17 is pushing it but any colder is miserable, in my view.

I know layering to stay warm without heating is not for everyone - far from it judging by the lack of take up on this thread. But you are not even trying. I would probably be as cold as you at 17C if wearing as little. I suggest you are bonkers for being so prepared to spend whatever it costs to keep the air where you live, so warm.