The great brrr-itish summer: How to avoid turning on the heating this 'June-uary'

Angela Terry, CEO of One Home and leading environmental scientist, has essential tips on how to retain heat in UK homes without relying on radiators

(Monday 17 June, 2024) Conversations around ‘when to turn the heating on’ normally take place in UK households every autumn, yet an unseasonably cold June, plagued by below average temperatures and persistent rainfall, has seen many Brits reluctantly reach for the thermostat.

Whilst Thursday’s solstice will signal the official start of summer, data from energy analyst, Cornwall Insight, has shown that heating demand is 22 per cent higher* than it was this time last year, when temperatures were upwards of 10c higher.  

With the Met Office blaming the jet stream for bringing in unwanted cool air from the Arctic, climate solutions charity, One Home, has outlined five no and low-cost ways for consumers to retain precious heat in their homes without resorting to turning on costly central heating. 

One Home CEO and leading environmental scientist, Angela Terry, said: “Many of us simply don’t budget for having to heat our homes in the summer months and at a time when energy prices are still worryingly high, it’s concerning to see that some people have felt cold enough to flick the heating switch. However, with temperatures struggling to get above 15 degrees in some parts of the country – the point at which many feel it necessary to turn the heating on – it’s clearly a dilemma many are having.    

“The issue highlights how important it is to make sure our homes are as energy efficient as possible whatever the season – this not only helps save money but also reduces our carbon footprint all year round. A little preparation can go a long way and there are a number of pocket-friendly ways to help keep warm air in and cold air out.

“In any case, the summer is actually a great time to carry out these improvements in preparation for the winter ahead, so your home stays cosy once temperatures really start to drop.”

One Home’s top tips for saving on heating costs this June-uary:

1. Draught proofing: To find draughty spots simply feel for gaps around doors, skirting boards and windows, especially on windy days, and block them up. Different materials can be used – foam strips start from around £5 and are easy to use, whilst copper or brush strips last longer but are more expensive. All types come in a range of widths and lengths to match the size of the gap. Dealing with any draughts means your home is less chilly, meaning you may be able to turn down your thermostat, saving even more on your energy bills.
2. Roast your radiators: Bleed your radiators to get rid of any air bubbles and make sure they are working efficiently. If you have Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) you can create different heating levels throughout your home – turn valves clockwise to shut off the radiator and anti-clockwise to turn it on. For rooms you don’t use often, turn TRVs to the * or 1 setting so the radiators come on if the room temperature gets below 7 degrees.  
3. Secondary window glazing film: an economical alternative to double glazing, this involves fitting a thin plastic film onto single glazed interior window frames. The film shrinks when heat is applied to it, to form an airtight bubble that reduces cold air coming in. Prices start from around £4. 
4. Mind the gap: if you live in a period property with hardwood floors, it’s important to fill gaps between floorboards. An easy and cheap option (starting at around £10) is to use an acrylic filler that matches the floor colour. There are even easier alternatives, including a specially designed folded tape which is bent lengthways and inserted into the gap, such as StopGap. Even putting a rug down will help.
5. Insulate your loft: the single most impactful thing homeowners can do to reduce heat loss quickly is to insulate their loft. The recommended depth for insulation is 27cm (about one foot). Many people may have some insulation but not enough, so the first task is to see how much you have. If you live in one of the eight million homes in the UK without adequate loft insulation, you could be losing around a quarter of the heat in your home through your roof. UK households are collectively spending an estimated £8.1 billion per year on wasted energy in the home.  A new Government grant for loft insulation and other improvements – the Great British Insulation Scheme – is open to people living in the least energy efficient homes and in certain council tax bands. Check if you are eligible here.

One Home is a UK charity which aims to help households adapt to a low cost, low carbon lifestyle and provides impartial information and advice on practical solutions that improve people’s lives whilst saving money and reducing carbon emissions. For more information, visit One Home, or download the charity’s energy saving guide.

 -ENDS-

*Heating use up a fifth on last June as cold summer continues (telegraph.co.uk)

Notes to editors 

For more information please contact:

Sam Carlisle at sam.carlisle@causecommunications.co.uk or Jenna Sloan at jenna.sloan@causecommunications.co.uk

About Angela Terry 

One Home was founded by Angela Terry MSc MEI, an environmental scientist with over 20 years’ experience in the renewables industry. Angela set up One Home to raise awareness of positive climate solutions and help UK households to adapt to a low cost, low carbon lifestyle. Angela was a pioneer of community energy in the UK as Development Director for Energy4All. She was also Head of Wood Fuel for the Forestry Commission, Policy Manager for RES, and a carbon scientist in New Zealand.

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The information in this article was correct at the time of writing and is provided for guidance only. Please see the full disclaimer in our terms and conditions.

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