As the days and nights continue to get colder, UK households are starting to question whether or not to put the heating on, but with this 1p solution, they won’t have to while they sleep
As the chill sets in across the UK, residents are debating whether to crank up the heating.
However, a thrifty 1p solution means they can stay toasty in bed without the hefty costs. Electric blankets, particularly energy-efficient models, offer a significant reduction in expenses. Uswitch experts have shed light on the matter: “Most electric blankets consume no more than 300 watts – and some single blankets as little as 40W – when on their highest setting.”
They further detail the cost-effectiveness: “Their energy usage falls significantly when the electric blanket is switched to its lowest setting, making it possible to heat a bed for 7-8 hours a night for as little as 1p, or £3.66 a year, when the blanket is set to its minimum heat setting.”
The experts at Uswitch also note: “How much your electric blanket costs to run over an extended period depends on its energy rating, what temperature you set it to, and how long you use it for each night.”
They offer additional advice for savings: “You can significantly reduce this cost by setting the blanket’s heat setting to low, having it switched on for fewer hours and not using it during the warmer months.”
For instance, they calculate: “For example, reducing your 250-watt blanket to half power, using it for just five hours a night, and only using it for 120 days of the year, would cost you 17p a night, totalling just £20.80 across four months of the year.”
In a bid to help households save even more, Octopus Energy is distributing electric blankets, claiming that this could slash bills by up to £300, reports Birmingham Live.
As part of its Octo Assist fund, energy supplier Octopus Energy is offering free electric blankets to eligible customers. According to the company, electric blankets can save an average home £300 on their energy bills, as they eliminate the need to heat the entire house.
The cost of heating a whole house can be around £4 per day, whereas an energy-efficient electric blanket can warm a person for just 2-4p per hour. Octopus Energy stated: “An electric blanket can save the average home £300 per year (they cost between 2 – 4p per hour to run).”
They added: “We’re giving them out free to those in greatest need – particularly the elderly, or those with medical or mobility issues. One of our boffins realised that some customers were paying to heat their entire homes, even if they lived alone.”
They explained further: “He did some calculations and found out that where heating a whole home costs around £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket can heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.”
They concluded by saying: “This means an electric blanket is a vastly more cost-effective way to stay warm: particularly for people with mobility issues, for example, and those who spend a lot of time in one spot. Or those with medical issues that mean they feel the cold more, or are more prone to illness.”