Winter is on its way. The past couple of weeks has seen a dramatic change to the weather in the south of England. We’ve gone from warm sunshine to cool days, cold nights, rain and wind. Heck, we’ve even had tornadoes. And it’s getting dark much earlier. In my house, the windows are closed and the rotary washing line in the garden has been decommissioned for the winter. We’ve all been digging in the backs of our wardrobes for our winter woollies, and warming soups are back on the menu. So, before the frosts and snow hit, and it’s pitch dark by mid-afternoon, it’s time to prepare for winter, eco-style.

Get your house in order

Saving energy this winter is one of the best things that you can do for the environment. There’s no point having your radiator cranking out heat when it all quickly escapes a badly insulated house.

• Cavity wall insulation – Getting your cavity walls insulated will save you up to 15% on your energy bills. If your home was built after 1920, it is likely to have external walls that are made up of two layers of brick with a small air gap or ‘cavity’ between them. Filling the gap between the two walls with an insulating material massively decreases the amount of heat that escapes, and helps to create a more even temperature in your home. It also helps to prevent condensation on the walls and ceilings and keeps your home cooler during the summer months.
• Loft insulation – An easy little DIY project, loft insulation prevents up to 15% of your home’s heat from escaping through the roof. Loft insulation acts as a blanket, trapping heat rising from the house below. The recommended minimum thickness is 270mm. “If everyone in the UK topped up their loft insulation to 270mm, £380m would be saved each year. That’s enough money to pay the annual fuel bills of over 400,000 families.” Energy Saving Trust
• Draught proofing – Another DIY project that will keep you warm and save some energy. To check whether you need draught proofing, feel around your windows and doors for cold air coming in. Cold air coming in means warm air is escaping. There are various different kinds of draught proofing available at most DIY stores: brushes, foams and sealants to strips and shaped rubber or plastic. Do remember that if you have solid fuel fires, gas fires or a boiler with an open flue, ventilation is absolute essential.
• Double glazing – Installing double glazing with involve a bigger investment than the other projects mentioned above, but it will cut heat lost through windows by half and can save £80 – £100 a year on your heating bills.

The good news is that there are grants available to all for these home improvements. You don’t have to be a pensioner or on benefits to qualify for grants, although if you are you may even qualify for many of these types of insulation installed for free. It’s worth checking, and you can do that on the Energy Saving Trust’s website, by entering your postcode and choosing the type of insulation you are interested in.

But wait, there’s more. Here are some other ideas for keeping warm at home during winter, while staying green.

If you are going to be installing central heating before the winter, have a look at this video for a cheaper option than installing gas central heating, and combined with green electricity, a very eco-friendly option.

[via Hippyshopper]

Kalirel electric central heating is available from Dealec.

And finally, 3 simple steps to save energy while keeping your home warm this winter:

• 1. Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree, save energy and save up to 10% on your home heating bill.
• 2. Turn your water heater down to 60′C.
• 3. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping.

Keeping warm – body & soul

Skin needs extra care in the winter months to protect against the elements. Avoid chapped lips, cheeks and hands with amazing 100% Shea butter from the Ethical Superstore. I switched to this lovely skin butter recently and am delighted with the effects on my skin.

Wrap up warm and look chic in this classic hemp and organic cotton blend black trench coat from Natural Collection.

Dare to be different. Natural Collection’s funky organic cotton striped tights are a colourful way to keep your legs warm and toasty.

These boots are made for giving the winter blues their marching orders. Earth Vegan Lodge boots are available from My Vegan Shoes.

Curl up in front of the fire with steaming mug of Cocodirect Fairtrade drinking chocolate. It’s delicious made with milk or soya milk, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Light your home with the low energy BioBulb to restore the body’s natural rhythms and bring nourishment to body, mind and soul. The bulb comes in 100W and 60W options (they run at just 25W), proving full spectrum light replicating sunlight to improve mood, nighttime sleep, and day time energy. Available from Nigel’s Eco Store.

Advertisement: Reduce your CO2 footprint by as much as 2 tonnes/year & save up to £150 on your energy bills.

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