Heating: when to turn it back on and practical tips for saving money

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© Julian Hochgesang – Unsplash

The seasonal rhythm has nothing to do with rampant inflationenergy prices. Whether in terms of gas or electricity, such an increase has never hit France so hard. A situation that was already worrying in 2021: according to the Énergie-Info Barometer, 12 million French people lived in a situation of thermal insecurity. A situation which has necessarily worsened in view of the consecutive increases in energy prices in 2022 and 2023. However, it remains possible to keep in mind a few tips to avoid suffering too much from the cold this winter, without spending a fortune.

Optimal settings

Heating is the main item of energy expenditure in homes. This is why good management of it will allow you not to stress too much when your invoices arrive.

Experts advise not to adopt the same temperatures in all rooms of the house, when possible. For the kitchen and living room, they consider that a temperature of 19°C is an acceptable threshold. The coolest rooms should ideally be the bedrooms, entrance hall and toilets with 17°C. For the bathroom, it is possible to push up to 20°C so that it remains comfortable to use.

The TotalEnergies company reminds consumers that a drop in temperature of around 1°C in the home as a whole allows a 7% reduction in energy consumption. Obviously, this is an average and the results will vary between a stone house in the countryside or a recent building in an urban area.

Two other aspects can also play into the equation: closing the shutters (-5% energy consumption) and regular maintenance of heating appliances (-10% energy consumption).

< h2>Technology at the service of savings

According to the recommendations of Ademe (Ecological Transition Agency), lower the general temperature of your home by 2°C while you are away is a habit to consider. Completely turning off the heating during prolonged absences is certainly more than advisable.

Certain automated systems or thermostatsThey also allow you to reduce your consumption in a rather interesting way: up to 15% depending on the model. The downside: these are expensive and the initial investment can be a bit steep (no pun intended). Depending on the brands or different devices, count on 650 to 1,000 euros; on the other hand, they are supported by government aid.

Obviously, housing insulationin its entirety will play a crucial role in heating efficiency and minimizing heat loss. This year, thermal insulation aid has also evolved. They concern ventilation, insulation or heating.

Even if no one will cut out an end-of-winter bill heavier than that of the winter; last year, these few tips might just lighten it up a little. As heating gradually becomes a luxury, using it intelligently becomes a priority.

• • Good ones Heating settings are a first point to consider to save money.
  • Modern insulation or thermostat technologies also exist so as not to throw money down the drain.

< li>These combined tips can mitigate the effects of inflation, but are not a magic wand.

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