Carbon saved by turning your room thermostat down, or turning it off for a while
In order for our homes to be comfortable, it is recommended that room thermostats be set between 18°C to 21°C in living areas, and at around 18°C in bedrooms. However, research by the Energy Saving Trust
found that almost half of households in the UK have their thermostats set above this, and one in five turn theirs up to over 25°C. Turning your room thermostat down by even one degree, which the body can easily acclimatise to in a matter of days or less, would make a huge annual CO2 saving of around 300kg, as well as save 10% off heating costs.
The effects can be easily compensated for by wearing extra layers and being more active, and taking simple actions like closing curtains in the evening. For those who do not have room thermostats, a similar carbon saving can be achieved by turning the heating off completely for a couple of hours a day.
Calculating CO2 saved by turning the thermostat down to a lower temperature, or turning the heating off for a little while.
For the purposes of our calculation, we need to find out the carbon saved by
1) Turning the thermostat down
2) Turning the heating off completely
1) Turning the thermostat by 1°C down saves 300 kg of CO2 per year.
Some people may turn their heating down by 1°C or 2°C or perhaps even more.
We have assumed an average reduction of 1.5°C resulting in a saving of 450 kg CO2 per year.
2) Turning the heating off completely
The average home uses 14,000 kWh for space heating every year. If we assume that the heating system will typically be active for around 7 months of the year
then the energy used over the course of a day is:
14000 kWh / (7 months x 30 days) = 66.7 kWh
Carbon intensity of gas = 0.19 kg CO2 per kWh
Therefore carbon emissions per day = 66.7 x 0.19 = 12.7 kg per day.
Assuming heating is on for 12 hours a day = 1.06 kg per hour.
We have assumed that the heating will be turned off for a period of two hours so 1.06 x 2 = 2.12 kg.
This would result in carbon savings through the year of : 2.12 kg x 7 months x 30 days = 445.2 kg CO2 per year.
Therefore average carbon saving by keeping your thermostat at a lower temperature, or heating off completely for a short while is:
(450 +445.2) / 2 = 447.6 = 450 kg CO2 per year approx.
Further Information
Background
Central heating as we know it is a relatively recent development, even though the concept dates back to Roman times. The first gas-fired water heater was invented in 1925, eventually evolving into the first wall-mounted domestic boiler that was launched in 1955.
So central heating in the 1950s was a rarity; typically a coal fire heated one or two main rooms in which all the family would gather.
The Great Smog of 1952 in London, in which at least 4000 people died, was caused by huge amounts of domestic coal-burning following weeks of cold weather, and exacerbated further by atmospheric conditions, factory emissions, and pollution carried on easterly winds from Europe.
This event played it's part in forcing the Clean Air Act of 1956, which forbade the burning of coal in many areas, and helped central heating systems become more prevalent.
By the 1970s, around 30% of households had central heating, (although even with the systems the average internal temperature was still only about 12 degrees)
. This has risen to a present-day figure of over 90%.
Resources
Energy Saving Trust
A good central heating system will consist of a several components such as a programmer, a room thermostat, a cylinder thermostat for hot water cylinders, and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), which monitor room temperature and turn radiators on and off accordingly. The Energy Saving Trust explains these components more fully.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/home_improvements/heating_and_hot_water/heating_controls
If you need replacement or new heating controls, you can also search for products on their website:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/compare_and_buy_products?SearchText=central+heating+controls&search-products-submit=Search
Heating and Hot Water Industry Council
The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council is a central resource which shares information and advice to householders. The website also has an online database of qualified central heating installers.
http://www.centralheating.co.uk/index/fuseaction/site.home/siteAreaId/5629
Tips
For more tips on saving energy and money:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-thermostat-tips-save-money.html
Tips for saving energy around the home:
http://www.northerngasheating.com/products/energy-efficiency.html
Grants
Energy Saving Trust
It may be possible to get a grant towards the installation of heating controls and a new boiler.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/proxy/view/full/2019/grantsandofferssearch
Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme
If you are over 60 and you live in Scotland, and have no central heating at all, you may be eligible for a free central heating system, as well as a home insulation package and energy efficiency advice.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/OlderPeople/Homeimprovements/Centralheating\\
