This is all very interesting to me. Thanks for all of the comments and info.
I’m a “put it on if I’m really cold” type (it’s not been on since April). If my feet are cold, despite wearing both my usual socks and my thick “winter” in-the-house socks, then it goes on.
It’s normally on first thing in the morning and then again before bed (if the socks have failed) but never overnight. I prefer to be wrapped up in the duvet.
I actually dislike central heating. It makes me feel tired and bunged up. I do wonder if growing up in a house with central heating only downstairs and it never being on (father was very tight) and sleeping in a freezing cold room has hardened me a bit.
Windows are almost always on the latch even in winter.
I think @fire makes a good point about helping the house itself if it needs it. So there’s that to consider.
I like @Fairygirl ‘s comment too. A few people I’ve spoken to recently have said they worked hard for years and lived in very cold houses. Now they feel like they’ve earned the comfort of being as warm as they want to be. The in-laws fall very much into this camp. I often find myself “going out for some air” when we visit as they have really good insulation and low ceilings.
I do find that being able to see my usage on a daily basis via my energy provider’s app has made me obsess slightly about “beating yesterday’s or last week’s total” (I suppose that’s part of why smart meters and in house displays are a thing now) but there comes a point where you can’t use any less without it becoming silly.
I guess (in this new house) I’ll need to find a good balance between being comfortable (heat and fresh air) and keeping the house happy. It’ll keep me occupied over our first winter here……
Ergates,sort of,the kitchen door opens into it,and only closed when we are out. Obviously its not that temperature in winter. This summer it has got 44c.place warms up quickly,lots of insulation in loft,also cavity wall insulation.our last house 1930s was bloody freezing!
Always wondered if a strategically placed conservatory could be used to collect heat for the rest of the house. As you say, though, it doesn’t get so warm in the winter when you’d need it. Our bungalow is rather spread out, with several rooms having two or three outside walls. Tends to stay cooler than outside in the summer, so can occasionally be a bit of a shock going out, a bit like stepping outside a supermarket in the USA, the heat just hits you.
Fire, we live in a bungalow detached unoverlooked, a bit of sun in it, and although it's north facing, yes it was 28c when I wrote that
Crikey - too hot for me.
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I have a double burning, modern, wood stove and used to take the edge off in autumn and spring, but now it seems wood fires are the major source of certain particulate matter in London... Not sure yet what to make of all that. Still. But I've stoped using it for now.
A properly insulated house heated by a heat pump is big incentive for me to move. Among others. I'd like my home to be a reflection of how I want to live. At the moment I'm pretty much heating the big outdoors and it's daft. I don't want to heat the wind and I don't want to be cold.
I like very much the philosopy of living in support of those living seven generations down the line. If we try and design our actions to secure a successful and thriving world for those people (and species), we're doing ok. The best oak tree is the one planted seven generations ago and we need to nuture new oaks now.
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I think I've only worn shorts about 5 days all year.
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