Millions of Brits keep their homes at dangerously low temperatures – and it’s saving less than they think

Millions of cash-strapped Brits keep the heating dangerously low to keep energy bills down – but they could be saving “much less money than they think”, a fuel poverty charity has warned.

The recommended minimum temperature to avoid respiratory and cardiovascular health risks in healthy adults is 18°C. As the cost of living crisis grinds on, National Energy Action estimate thats “millions” of Brits keep their home below this safe level.

But rationing your energy use to 16°C – two degrees under the safe limit – saves just 66p per day, the charity estimates.

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“Every day, our advisers speak to clients who turn down their heating below a healthy level of warmth. They hope to save pounds every day,” said NEA chief executive Adam Scorer. “[Our research] shows the cost difference could be much less than most people think.”

NEA conducted the tests at cutting-edge Salford’s Energy House Labs, a research facility for examining energy costs.

The energy price cap is set to rise by 1% in January 2025, representing an annual energy bill increase of £21 for the average household. But NEA and Salford researchers found you’d have to reduce your thermostat to an unhealthy temperature for more than a month to save this sum.

Such self-enforced rationing is common: last year, 97% of callers to the NEA’s energy advice and support line said they were unable to keep their homes warm. From January 6.1 million UK households will be in fuel poverty, the charity warn, needing to spend more than 10% of their income on energy.

But the health consequences can be severe, Scorer warns.

“The health and wellbeing impact of a home heated below 18°C can be far worse than people know,” he said. “For every degree below 18, cold homes take an increasing toll on people’s health, wellbeing and lives.”

Cold environments weaken immunity, increasing the risk of infections. Dampness fosters mould growth, triggering allergies and asthma.

For vulnerable groups like the elderly, prolonged exposure to cold can be life-threatening.

Yet the government recently opted to means test the winter fuel payment, limiting the payment to the poorest pensioners only. Some 10 million older people will lose their right to the £200-£300 annual benefit.

Recently-published forecasts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed that 100,000 pensioners will be pushed into poverty by the cuts by the end of the decade. Speaking to the Big Issue, advocates described the decision as “cruel” and “brutal”.

And it’s not just the elderly. From January, energy bills will be 65% higher than they were in winter 2020-21, with the Ofgem cap surging to £1,736.

Support is available for those struggling. The warm home discount is a £150 reduction on bills, for those who receive either universal credit, housing benefit, or the guarantee credit element of pension credit.

But increased support could help millions stay warm this winter, Scorer said.

“Bringing in a larger energy discount or a new social tariff could protect low-income households,” he said. “Crucially, the government’s Warm Homes Plan needs to invest in energy efficiency to make fuel poor homes cheaper and easier to heat.”

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