[OCB]

Following on a bit from the domestic heating control + various other discussions on energy/heating/housing - I’m particularly curious to know what others are doing given the rather eye-watering increase in energy prices, especially natural gas.

Our provider here in Belgium has been kind enough to tell us, based on our previous years consumption, we need to increase our monthly payment by 120% to cover our winter usage - basically taking our annual gas and leccy to about 5k euro per year. It ain’t Buck Palace, but a 180m2 end terrace 1950s red brick affair. 6.5-7.5 kWh per annum for leccy, 24k kWh for gas (3 kids…)

Missus had a panic attack about this yesterday, so I’m looking at all reasonable options.

Clearly reducing consumption is a priority.

Adding solar/heat pump etc will be looked at, but my place isn’t well suited to either.

I’m even considering getting back into options/futures trading and getting calendar spreads on

I saw this morning one of our neighbours is putting on external cladding - something I’ve had in the back of my mind for years, but I’d only be able to do the side and back.

Are there any good (free?) websites that would allow me to plug in the details of the property, then simulate what the various options would give?

Even if I did hire a specialist to do a survey, I’d still want to cross-check his homework

[johnm]

Ours is triple wall, cavity block work faced with Cotswold stone and a decent level of loft insulation across most of the house. Part of the attic is floored and so insulation there is a bit thinner than I would like otherwise it's a foot thick or more. Big problem is wooden double glazed windows as the timber shrinks and so draughts are an issue and that's being worked on as we speak with new draught excluder seals.

Otherwise we wear jumpers etc and burn logs from the wood in the sitting room, leave the heating low or off much of the day and turn out unused lights etc. Not a lot else we can do as the structure is not really suitable for solar panels and we're in a conservation area.

[malcolmfrost]

Turn down the thermostat

[Forfoxake]

Lots of useful tips in Energy mythbusting on moneysavingexpert.com website

[Bill McCarthy]

If you had a stone built house in our part of the world you could apply to have external cladding / render fixed on - about £40 000 worth for free. It’s 100mm thick treated polystyrene with galvanised mesh over that to hold the render. Trouble is, it is very easily damaged and repairs are unsightly.
Hows about water vacuum heating tubes on the roof for HW.

[Flyin'Dutch']

That's a lot of electricity for that size house and people.

Have you changed all incandescent bulbs to LED, add timers or movement sensors to all the rooms where one is temporary only and an iron regime of switching it off when leaving. Unless you have a heat pump, never ever use electricity to heat.

If you're cooking on electricity other than an induction hob, chuck and replace. If you have an old electric oven replace. Reduce cooking in oven.

Chuck old clothes drier and replace with one with a heat pump.

Draught proof all doors and windows. Replace all single pane windows with double glazing, Close curtains as soon as it is dark. If you have an open fire get a flap mounted in the one you use, and close it when not in use. Those not in use; seal.

Everyone put on an extra jumper. Shower shorter and baths are a treat.

External cladding is usually not great as it promotes damp/mould but eltonioni will know more.

Loft insulation easier/cheaper. There will sans doubt be some government support for something like that?

[Loco parentis]

Scare mongering and proving an empty theory will cost big bucks I'm afraid.

[Rob P]

... burn logs from the wood in the sitting room

Jeez! Just how big is this sitting room?

We have a few houseplants, but no space for full-blown afforestation, whatever Greta says.

Rob P

[rf3flyer]

If you had a stone built house in our part of the world you could apply to have external cladding / render fixed on - about £40 000 worth for free. It’s 100mm thick treated polystyrene with galvanised mesh over that to hold the render.

I'm not very far South of you Bill and I went to a presentation billed as 'External Wall Insulation.
I read that as 'External Wall, Insulation' and I was interested,
What they meant was 'External, Wall Insulation.
There are many examples round here, they are all butt ugly and I doubt will be long lasting.
I left.

[Paultheparaglider]

Shower shorter and baths are a treat.

Pah! You decadent Europeans are so wasteful. Nowt wrong with a once a week scrub up in the kitchen sink.

[Bill McCarthy]

rf - yes they are hideous.

[T6Harvard]

@Flyin'Dutch' has it almost all covered

We saved a packet by cutting down on oven use. Small roasts, jacket spuds (started in microwave), quiches, casseroles etc etc are all cooked in a Remoska. We have medium sized one but there is a larger 'family sized' one available. They are dear for what they are ( a simple electric pan really) but we swear by ours now. Bought from Lakeland*, daarling. Other suppliers are probably available.

* does anyone remember when they were called Lakeland Plastics? What a good job they changed the name!

[johnm]

@Rob P it seems my sentence construction is decaying in my old age, along with much else I fear

[Sooty25]

Two of my rental properties have historically suffered from rising damp due being built before damp courses were fitted, and from suffolk soft red bricks (porus). Tried most solutions over the years and nothing really cured them. When the Govt was dishing out grants for external cladding, I had them both done.

Both have seen significant reductions in gas heating consumption. The semi detached bungalow it has halved it, although the loft insulation was increased from 100mm to 200mm at the same time. Both are pretty much damp free now.

[malcolmfrost]

When we moved into our current house it had an old oil boiler and minimal insulation. We got a grant for loft and cavity, put in double glazing and fitted an up to date boiler. We used to have a 2500 litre tank and had to fill it 3 times a year. We now have a 1250l tank and manage all winter on one fill. We also have a Nest thermostat which means we don't heat the house when we are out. The house is much more comfortable as well.