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<\/p>\nA SAVVY saver has revealed how he saves hundreds of pounds a year by never turning the heating on – but still stays warm.<\/p>\n
Harry Snell, 38, last fired up the boiler in his two-bed flat in Ladywood, Birmingham, in 2015.<\/p>\n
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Every winter, he instead turns to some simple energy-saving tricks that mean he won't feel the cold.<\/p>\n
He told the Sun: \u201cI\u2019m really conscious of rising bills, and the impact this is having on my\u00a0finances. <\/p>\n
"I used to pay around \u00a329 a month for gas and electricity by being\u00a0really savvy, and taking steps to keep my usage down.<\/p>\n
"But things have got a lot harder now, especially with high\u00a0standing charges. <\/p>\n
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"Around eight years ago, I decided to ditch my heating completely. <\/p>\n
"I currently pay around \u00a360 a month \u2013 which is still extremely low compared to most.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reckons he's saved at least \u00a3500 by avoiding heating during the winter.<\/p>\n
According to figures from Uswitch, based on typical consumption, the average household with\u00a0gas central heating\u00a0spends around \u00a3400 for three months of heating. <\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n While this figure would probably be a little lower for Harry as the single occupant in a two-bed apartment, he still makes a huge saving by avoiding heating during the winter.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I looked at my usage, I realised that one of the worst\u00a0energy guzzlers\u00a0for me was my heating,\u201d said Harry, who is a fitness instructor and diet coach at FoodFreedomBlueprint.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was costing me a fortune. So I decided to try and make some changes which would mean I could switch it off, while still being able to stay warm.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Harry, in the first instance, living in a flat has been a big help.<\/p>\n \u201cChoosing to live in an apartment, rather than in a house, means I have very few outward-facing walls, making it easier to\u00a0keep heat in,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m also very disciplined about keeping my doors shut, meaning less heat can escape.\u201d<\/p>\n The energy-saving whizz has also installed\u00a0draught proofing.<\/p>\n \u201cI noticed there was cold air coming in through the gaps under my door, so I screwed draught blockers to the bottom of each one to keep my home as draught-free as possible. <\/p>\n "Each draught blocker costs around \u00a310 from\u00a0Amazon.\u201d<\/p>\n Another simple step which Harry swears by is wearing lots more\u00a0layers\u00a0during the winter months.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m strict about following the rule, \u2018heat the person, not the place,\u2019\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe key to this is wearing enough clothes around the house. When it gets especially cold, my hands, feet and head tend to feel it the most.<\/p>\n "I can sometimes end up wearing two pairs of socks, fingerless gloves and a hat while I\u2019m inside. <\/p>\n "It might look a little strange, but it doesn\u2019t bother me, as it\u2019s helping me keep costs down.\u201d<\/p>\n Fortunately, as Harry\u2019s flat has few outer walls, it doesn\u2019t usually get too cold.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve measured the temperature during the winter, and the lowest it has dropped to has been around 12 degrees celsius,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is much higher than a house would be during the colder months.\u201d<\/p>\n The Energy Saving Trust recommends you set your heating to the "lowest comfortable temperature" and for the majority of us, this is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n Most of us start turning the heating on when it reaches about 15.5 degrees Celsius outside, experts say.<\/p>\n Turning the heating off completely might not be to everyone's comfort. <\/p>\n But Harry's tips can also be used to keep the heating at a lower temperature and still save you cash.<\/p>\n Turning the thermostat just a single degree lower can save you around \u00a3100 a year.<\/p>\n For some who can't turn the heating off altogether, such as people with health conditions, there are grants available to help with heating bills – check them out in our guide.<\/p>\n Harry says he\u2019s never needed to invest in a hot water bottle or\u00a0heated blanket, which many others use to avoid turning the heating on.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother simple trick I use to stay warm is to keep active at home doing chores,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is better than sitting still on the sofa watching TV and getting cold. <\/p>\n "Moving around will often help eliminate feeling the need to put the heating on. I also make hot drinks if I feel a bit chilly.\u201d<\/p>\n Other ways to avoid turning the heating on, or keep the temperature lower include\u00a0closing your curtains\u00a0in the evening. <\/p>\n When temperatures naturally drop, you should draw them to keep the heat in, and then open them in the morning when the sun comes out.<\/p>\n Switching off\u00a0so-called "vampire devices", that drain energy when left on standby or used inefficiently, could save you on your bills as well.<\/p>\n Here's 30 ways to cut your\u00a0energy bill now.<\/p>\n Extreme as it sounds, Harry has also switched off his\u00a0hot water.<\/p>\n \u201cI also made this change about eight years ago and I haven\u2019t looked back,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve travelled a lot and learned from people who live in countries which don\u2019t have hot water tanks. <\/p>\n "My shower is electric, so I can still get a warm start to the day. That said, I often have a cold\u00a0shower. <\/p>\n "It may sound surprising, but you feel warmer afterwards as the blood rushes back to your skin.\u201d<\/p>\n The savvy money-saver says he saw no point in having the hot water on just to wash his hands or the dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I really need hot water, I boil the\u00a0kettle,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I do, I\u2019m careful to only boil the amount of water I need, so as not to waste energy. <\/p>\n "And I don\u2019t repeatedly press the switch. Once the water is boiled, it stays hot for quite a while. <\/p>\n "There\u2019s no need to press the switch again just a few minutes later.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/newspress-collage-24104806-1695499212270.jpg\")
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