Don't think I could survive with temperatures of 15 degrees in the main living areas, at this time of year ( and with the sudden drop temperatures). I'd freeze to death. We don't have our central heating on a timer, we just turn it on or off as and when needed. Anything below 18 is far too cold for us. This morning the temperature had dropped for the first time to 16.9 , so the heating went on. We have had walls and loft insulated and a new more efficient boiler installed since we moved here ( and the usual thick curtains and draught excluder at front door plus thermal curtain) but the older we get, the more we feel the cold now. Can't function when I'm too cold.
My alarm clock has a thermometer on it. I popped it under the bedding this morning during Alfie cuddle time - nearly 18C. That's with one mid weight duvet and a fairly chunky wool blanket. Or maybe it's the small black dog that makes the difference?
I recently bought an Alpaca wool duvet. Very happy with it, and i'm cosy in an unheated bedroom with temp down to 9' at night. Alpaca wool is different from normal wool, as the fibres are hollow, so more insulating. When it arrived, i was unsure if i had made an expensive mistake, as it was only around 1" thick, but i needn't have worried. It also has a nice weight to it, so it stays in place. It is meant to be good year round, and you don't over heat in summer. We will see how that works, but i'm very happy with it at this time of year. I have a light weight summer duvet if needed.
We have a 4tog duvet on the bed through the winter. OH gets too hot and decamps to the spare room where he just uses the cover. In the Spring and autumn we have an all cotton 1tog duvet and just a cover in the summer.
We have a quilted cover on the mattress and a fitted electric blanket, so there’s a good lot of heat under as above although the electric blanket is only on for a short time before we go to bed, not all night. The secret of a warm bed is to have layers under as well as over. If you have a spare duvet it’s good to put under the sheet.
Our place is extremely well insulated, about 18” in the loft, all outside walls are insulated, and the walls ceiling and floors in the part we live in.
Our fuel bills are very low.
I think you can get used to cold, we had no heating at all through that freezing spell in February this year, we got used to it, and slept better. Just reminded me of how things were. Heating was unheard of.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I agree @Lyn - layers above the mattress and above are the key. Fleecy pillow cases are cosy too. I didn’t think I’d like those as thought a smooth pillow was the best, but I am converted.
I changed our sheets/pillowcases for brushed cotton ones last Monday. The temps promptly went up and it was 9c outside at 11 pm. We've been too hot since then, you can't win, can you!
Dr Michael Moseley has been on the radio this week, talking about the benefits of keeping cooler and being cold adapted. He talks about having the thermostat set to 15, but a lot depends on where that is positioned. Ours is in the hall but near the kitchen door so if we are cooking we have to make sure the door is closed or the thermostat cuts off and the lounge/ dining room is cold. We have our stat at 18, heating is timed 7-10 in the morning 4-11pm afternoon and eve. Off at night. Works for us, as with others thick lined curtains draught excluders, cavity wall and loft insulation.
I will try to find that @Allotment Boy - was it BBC Radio? They do recordings on BBC Sounds if so.
I have noticed that since we have been setting the heating cooler, I very easily get all rosy-cheeked in above 18 or more!
Thrifty tip: we have covered the back wall behind the bed (west facing wall in total shade from next door and trees) with underlay (opaque foamy stuff on a roll). It feels much warmer to the touch and temp holding better overnight. Might be psychological but feels more cosy. I know people not want that ‘look’ but it’s handy for cold spaces and could be used over windows/behind curtains etc.
Dr Michael Moseley has been on the radio this week, talking about the benefits of keeping cooler and being cold adapted. He talks about having the thermostat set to 15, but a lot depends on where that is positioned. Ours is in the hall but near the kitchen door so if we are cooking we have to make sure the door is closed or the thermostat cuts off and the lounge/ dining room is cold. We have our stat at 18, heating is timed 7-10 in the morning 4-11pm afternoon and eve. Off at night. Works for us, as with others thick lined curtains draught excluders, cavity wall and loft insulation.
Our thermostat does that too (no door between the hall and the kitchen) but it's a wireless one so we take it off the wall and put it into the room that people are sitting in, if someone's feeling cold (normally only if we have visitors who feel the cold more than we do).
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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We have had walls and loft insulated and a new more efficient boiler installed since we moved here ( and the usual thick curtains and draught excluder at front door plus thermal curtain) but the older we get, the more we feel the cold now. Can't function when I'm too cold.
When it arrived, i was unsure if i had made an expensive mistake, as it was only around 1" thick, but i needn't have worried. It also has a nice weight to it, so it stays in place.
It is meant to be good year round, and you don't over heat in summer. We will see how that works, but i'm very happy with it at this time of year. I have a light weight summer duvet if needed.
We have a quilted cover on the mattress and a fitted electric blanket, so there’s a good lot of heat under as above although the electric blanket is only on for a short time before we go to bed, not all night.
The secret of a warm bed is to have layers under as well as over. If you have a spare duvet it’s good to put under the sheet.
I think you can get used to cold, we had no heating at all through that freezing spell in February this year, we got used to it, and slept better. Just reminded me of how things were. Heating was unheard of.
We've been too hot since then, you can't win, can you!
I have noticed that since we have been setting the heating cooler, I very easily get all rosy-cheeked in above 18 or more!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001tbcs
Our thermostat does that too (no door between the hall and the kitchen) but it's a wireless one so we take it off the wall and put it into the room that people are sitting in, if someone's feeling cold (normally only if we have visitors who feel the cold more than we do).