Eco-friendly Heating Habits

Eco-friendly heating habits

A quiz to make your winters more comfortable and more responsible. 

#1 On average, heating accounts for 1/3 of a household’s energy use. 

TRUE OR FALSE? 

FALSE. It accounts for 2/3. Much more than all electric appliances combined. 

#2 What’s the recommended temperature for living rooms? 

A. 19°C / B. 21°C / C. 23°C 

CORRECT ANSWER: A - Experts recommend adapting the temperature to each room. Examples: 16°C for bedrooms / 17-22°C for bathrooms / 14°C for attics 

#3 If you feel cold at home, you should: 

A. Turn up your heating system’s thermostat. / B. Switch on a back-up heater. / C. Put on a sweater. 

CORRECT ANSWER: C - Rather than trying to increase the temperature, put on an extra layer of clothing. It’s effective and much more energy-efficient. 

#4 To avoid wasting heat, you should stop airing out your home in winter. 

TRUE OR FALSE? 

CORRECT ANSWER: FALSE - Airing out each room 10 minutes a day is important for indoor air quality. But remember to turn off the heating while you do it!

#5 You can save on heating by keeping curtains and shutters closed. 

TRUE OR FALSE? 

TRUE - At night. Closing curtains and shutters at night reduces heat loss. FALSE - During the day. Letting in the light on sunny days helps warm up your home. 

#6 A back-up heater uses more energy than a conventional radiator. 

TRUE OR FALSE? 

TRUE – Back-up heaters should only be used as a supplement to conventional heating systems because they use more energy. 

Summary: 

• Heating accounts for 2/3 of a household’s energy use. 
• Adapt the temperature to each room to avoid overheating and excessive energy use. 
• Rather than trying to increase the temperature, put on warmer clothes. 
• Air out your home even in winter but remember to turn off the heating. 
• Open curtains and shutters during the day to let in the sun’s warmth and close them at night to reduce heat loss. 
• Only use back-up heaters as a supplement because they use more energy than conventional radiators.