INDEX interiors
big chill Get ready
for the
It’s worth replacing old and ill-fi tting windows with energy- effi cient glazing. Canterbury Safestyle Windows specialises in supplying and fi tting windows that will make your home more energy effi cient and is currently doing a buy one, get one free deal on windows and doors. Call 0800 106107 or see www,
safestyle-windows.co.uk
Then you need to think about installing a digital room thermostat and timer, which will automatically reduce the heating while you are asleep or at work. As much as 10 per cent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees. Thermostats and timers are available from Nigel Sladden in Canterbury. Call 01227 472101 or see
www.sladdens.co.uk. Turning the thermostats down in all rooms apart
from one is a great way to stop others in the family skulking off to play video games, or watching different TVs around the house. You can keep one living area snug (between 18-21ºC) and use the room to enjoy quality family time. Walk around your house to fi nd where draughts are
coming from, especially around doors, windows and electrical sockets. If you fi nd any draughts, deal with them. A staggering 1.5m homes suffered burst pipes last winter, so lag pipes to prevent them bursting. B&Q in Canterbury has a whole range of products designed for keeping the cold at bay, from self-adhesive foam strips to pipe lagging and boiler jackets. Call 01227 865500 or see
www.diy.com.
If you need a new boiler then now is the time to buy one,
before there’s snow on the ground and the heating engineers are booked up for weeks ahead. Do your homework to ensure you select the right boiler for your home or call an expert. Canterbury Plumbing and Heating offers free quotes and advice and has a comprehensive range of new boilers and a team of experts to help you decide. Call 0800 2985004 or see
www.heatingcentral.com.
Invest in some decent, thermal-lined curtains. Paul Simon in Canterbury has an excellent range of fabrics which can be made with thermal linings. They will make a huge difference, especially if you live in an older property. Call 01227 829360 or see www.
paulsimon.co.uk. And how about reaching for a nice cosy blanket while you’re on the sofa in the evening? If it matches your décor so much the better. Then you can turn down your thermostat because lowering the temperature down just 1ºC can save up to 10 per cent on your heating bills over the whole year, so imagine if you turned it down even more. Check out the blankets and throws in Canterbury at Debenhams, Fenwick and M&S. Merchant Chandler in Orange St also has a good selection. Remember that hot water bottles are not just for bedtime. You can carry one around with you or even warm your clothes up
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
As much as 10 per cent can be saved on heating bills by turning the thermostat back by just a few degrees.
before you put them on on a cold morning. Just remember to boil only the amount of water you need and buy a kettle recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. It takes willpower to turn your heating down a couple of hours before you go to bed so if a hot water bottle isn’t enough, invest in an extra duvet that you can use in the winter and store away in the summer. For winter look for a duvet with a tog rating of around 13.5. Surprisingly, doing the housework could help keep your energy bills down too. While you are dusting all those high and hard to reach places, check that your bulbs are all the energy saving variety. Canterbury Lighting in Wincheap can advise on energy-saving bulbs. Call 01227 768488 or see www.
lighting-shop-kent.co.uk. See
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call for free advice on 0800 512 012.
59
The INDEX magazine January 2012
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