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LISTED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE QUICK, EASY AND CHEAP WAYS TO CUT YOUR HEATING BILLS! POWER company EDF says having heating set at just 1C more than needed uses 7% more energy... so one of the

first things you can do is fit thermostats (robinets thermostatiques) on radiators to give low temperatures in unused rooms and more comfort elsewhere. Do not turn heating off in unused

rooms – they “suck” heat from elsewhere. To stop radiator heat warming the wall and escaping outside, you can line behind with heavy kitchen foil – shiny side to the room – to reflect the

heat back. This works better and is easier to place if you stick the foil to a sheet of bubble wrap that is also an insulator. DIY shops have film thermo-réflecteurs for about €3. Also, dust

the radiator and move furniture away. Draughts can also make a room feel cold, so use “boudins” or DIY draught excluders – make your own with old tights and stuffing material to seal the

gap at the bottom of the door. Put covers over power points, keyholes and the letterbox – and seal gaps where pipes come in from the outside. Heavy curtains can stop heat leaking out windows

and you can also hang a curtain behind a door to stop draughts, especially an outside door. Close your shutters (volets) if the heating is on – and open curtains wide if the sun is shining

in. Is your loft insulated? About 30% of heat escapes via the roof so insulate it with mineral wool rouleau laine de verre at e6 for a 4.5m x 200mm roll. An ideal thickness would be 300mm