The most recent figures show that Bulgarians who cannot keep their homes warm enough are nearly 40%, as this is the highest level in the EU, where people affected by energy poverty are 8% average.
Heating homes account for over 71,4% of household energy consumption in Bulgaria. So reducing this figure – while keeping homes warm enough – not only cuts energy bills but helps you to enjoy better the Bulgarian winter season.
But before the tips, let’s check out the condition of our place!
Winter already arrived in Bulgaria, and we have prepared 14 simple tips for keeping your home warm for little or no extra cost.
1. Use your curtains
The heat from the sun is free so make the most of it. Open your curtains and let the sunlight in during the day to make use of this free heat. When it gets dark, shut your curtains, which act as another layer of insulation and keep warmth in your rooms.
You should also make sure you don’t have any leaks or gaps on the window frames so that the warm air can stay in and the cold air stays out – the use of curtains also helps to reduce condensation.
2. Move your sofa.
It might feel great to have your favorite seat in front of the radiator, but in this way the sofa it’s absorbing heat that could be warming your home. By moving it away from the heater, hot air can circulate freely. The same goes for your curtains or drying clothes – keep them away from the radiator so that you can get the most out of your heat source.
3. Wrap up your hot water tank.
If you have an electric hot water tank, make sure it is properly insulated. This will keep the water warmer for longer, and reduce heating costs. Insulating an uninsulated water tank could save you a good amount of levs a year – but even just upgrading your tank’s “old insulation” will help to save money in the electricity bill at the end of the month.
4. Block out the draughts.
Even a simple solution such as making your own sausage dog draught excluder for your entrance door will help keep the warmth in your home.
You can do this yourself for a minimal cost. Self-adhesive rubber seals around doors and windows and door draught excluders are relatively cheap and easy to install. So it’s worth getting those doors and windows sealed before winter properly kicks in.
5. Upgrade your boiler.
If your electrical boiler is more than ten years old, it may be time to replace it with a new, more efficient model. Which uses less energy to produce the same amount of heat. Plus, if it’s new, you’re less likely to have any issues going into the winter season.
even new models allow you to control water temperature from your phone even if you aren’t at home.
6. Install thermostatic radiator valves.
If you are installing heating controls and thermostatic radiator valves, this will result in energy savings of 40% compared to a house with no controls. These work by allowing you to program your heating to come on at predefined times – so you only use energy when you need it.
New smart thermostats can also be controlled remotely via your mobile so you can turn on your heating on the way home, ensuring it’s nice and toasty when you arrive.
7. Reflect the heat.
Radiator panels are relatively cheap, easy to install and ensure that heat from your radiators warms up your room and not your walls. They work by reflecting the heat into the room.
8. Cook at home.
Bake cookies or a pie. Your oven will help to dry the air and heat the kitchen. The kitchen will be warm while you are cooking. After, leave the oven on and open the oven door to let the heat in the house.
Limit cooking that gives off steam, as this will increase the humidity in the air and make your house damp. Lowering humidity in the wintertime helps you to feel warmer. Water vapor (humidity) has a higher heat capacity (ability to absorb heat) than dry air. As a result, humid air feels colder in winter than does dry air and it takes more heat to make damp air feel comfortable.
9. Your pets are portable heaters.
Consider cuddling if it gets freezing. Our cats think movie time is the best thing ever since they have nice warm humans to nap on.
10. Keep blankets and lap rugs handy and use them.
When we sit, our circulation slows down. Keeping a throw blanket over your lap while you’re working on the computer or watching TV can improve your comfort levels without turning up the thermostat.
11. In the bedroom.
Instead of sleeping with a sheet over you, then blankets and quilts on top of that, have a knitted or crocheted blanket/afghan over you, then the sheet on top of that, and then any added blanket. The knitted blanket against your skin with the sheet over it traps your body warmth amazingly well. If gets really cold you can also add a blanket between the mattress and the sheet below you in the bed.
12. Extra heat from the woodstove.
you can keep a few flat rocks on the woodstove when you are not cooking on it. Then, you take one, wrap it in a towel and put under your feet when using the computer or lay it at the foot of the bed,
13. Put a carpet or warm rug
Wooden floors might look great, but they can also let heat escape from right under your feet. Putting down a warm rug covers up the gaps and ensures your feet stay warm.
14. At the chimney.
There’s an unbelievable amount of heat that can be lost through an open fireplace. A way to stop this is by putting a ball of crumpled newspaper paper inside the chimney hole, it will shut out any incoming cold air or escaping the heat. Just be sure not to start a fire without removing it.
