Just when I thought it was starting to get warmer, Bristol is hit with another cold snap! I refuse to put the heating on at this time of year, so we need to think about other ways of keeping warm at night. Slippers and a blanket help a lot! :)
According to about.com, windows and doors are the second biggest culprits for losing heat from your home. I made a draught excluder for the front door, but our bedroom is always freezing because I never got round to beefing up the thin curtains "insulating" the north-facing bay windows!
There are a lot of ways to reduce the heat lost through windows. A good place to start is to determine whether there's a draught, which can be sealed up with insulating tape. For windows that open, you can use foam strips between the window and the frame. You can also buy an insulating film to stick onto the pane to bulk up the thickness of the glass itself if double glazing isn't an option for you.
Apparently you can stick a layer of bubble wrap onto windows for insulation, but if you want something slightly more normal you could invest in some heavy curtains or sew a second layer of fabric onto the ones you already have. Bathroom and kitchen blinds will help to keep the heat in at night! Don't forget to open your blinds/curtains during the day to let the sunlight warm your home.
The Energy Saving Trust found that you can save £170 by upgrading from single to double glazing windows, and a further £120 by draught-proofing your home. Improving your window insulation can save you twice as much as insulating your attic, so it's definitely time I got my act together and replaced our translucent curtains!
How do you insulate your home? Have you noticed any improvement in energy usage?
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Kitchen Blinds.
There are a lot of ways to reduce the heat lost through windows. A good place to start is to determine whether there's a draught, which can be sealed up with insulating tape. For windows that open, you can use foam strips between the window and the frame. You can also buy an insulating film to stick onto the pane to bulk up the thickness of the glass itself if double glazing isn't an option for you.
Apparently you can stick a layer of bubble wrap onto windows for insulation, but if you want something slightly more normal you could invest in some heavy curtains or sew a second layer of fabric onto the ones you already have. Bathroom and kitchen blinds will help to keep the heat in at night! Don't forget to open your blinds/curtains during the day to let the sunlight warm your home.
The Energy Saving Trust found that you can save £170 by upgrading from single to double glazing windows, and a further £120 by draught-proofing your home. Improving your window insulation can save you twice as much as insulating your attic, so it's definitely time I got my act together and replaced our translucent curtains!
How do you insulate your home? Have you noticed any improvement in energy usage?
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Kitchen Blinds.
4 comments:
I never replaced the windows at the front of my house because they were ok ish, but now I can really tell the difference. The back of the house not only has new windows and doors but is South facing and keeps lovely and warm. The North facing, poor windowed front is FREEZING.
You dont have to stick bubble wrap up only spray the window with plain water and lay the bubble wrap on it, flat side down; it peels off very easily.
I only do this on my guest room windows that are north facing and obviously only in the winter. I can easily remove it when guest are staying.
A south facing dwelling is very important, something to bear in mind when you eventually buy a house.
All that lovely passive solar heat that you dont have to pay for ! Can t be bad.
I love the bubble wrap trick! Though it does postpone my joy at popping the bubbles.
I read your blog on daily basis. This is really great and informative post. Thanks for sharing.
draught proofing window and doors
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