During summer we glued panels of thick polystyrene (5 cm) on the ceiling of the garage which runs under our kitchen, hall and part of the living room. The garage is half way below ground as it is custom here. We will have to look at our future bills as I can't feel much difference except the garage is definitely warmer 🤔: I don't get it!
I bought a heated poncho from ebay. It has its own power pack, rechargeable via USB. Plug it into the poncho, and it gives a lovely warmth. We use a halogen oven and slow cooker as much as possible, plus Ninja. In the evening, we have a huge fleecy tartan blanket over us and often, 3 dogs! We also have oodies!
A few years a go I put thick, floor length curtains over the front and back doors (bargains to be hand on Ebay). I also put in a room dividing curtain. The thick curtain on the porch door makes a tremendous difference.
My next plan is to swap too-thin window curtains for much chunkier affairs.
Yes. It's a good thought. I have clipped in to the curtains thermal black out lining but it's not very thick. I made most of my curtains myself and it would be lovely if I could keep them. I do think that thick, chunky velvet affairs with good /thermal lining would do more. I really need to replace the double glazing as the seals are very old but it's a big, expensive job.
My ongoing condundrum is living in an 19thC leaky house in a city I don't really want to live in. If this was a "forever home" I would eco-overhaul the house entirely. For now insulation and curtains suffice.
@coccinella, I don't want to worry you but think the polystrene sheets are a big fire risk. We were made to remove my father's old ceiling tiles in his bedroom because of the risk before we could let the house. It wasn't easy to remove them!
I thought I was doing well in the cold weather, not needing anything extra, keeping warm with a blanket when sitting down as is often the case, but have found I am feeling really tired mentally and physically in the early evenings/late afternoon and think it must be because of the prolonged days of cold weather.
Agree about thermal lining re curtains. Some have thermal and blackout qualities - keeps heat in during cold weather & heat out in hot/heatwave weather.
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
I have off cuts (from skips) of thick insulating foam behind all my radiators. I hope it makes a differnence. Neighbours are always throwing out vast amounts of insulation board. It's worth snaffling, I think.
Posts
Luxembourg
We use a halogen oven and slow cooker as much as possible, plus Ninja.
In the evening, we have a huge fleecy tartan blanket over us and often, 3 dogs!
We also have oodies!
It's always good to avoid using much electricity between 5-7pm if you can (kettles, dishwasher, washing machine, electric heater etc).
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We were made to remove my father's old ceiling tiles in his bedroom because of the risk before we could let the house.
It wasn't easy to remove them!
Agree about thermal lining re curtains. Some have thermal and blackout qualities - keeps heat in during cold weather & heat out in hot/heatwave weather.