Fit draught-excluders to any single-glazed doors or windows

Fit draught-excluders to any single-glazed doors or windows.

Stopping chills from getting into your home means that you'll use less energy for heating.

In an uninsulated house, as much as three-quarters of the heat you pay for filters into the outside world before you've benefited from it. With good insulation and careful use of fuel, this figure could be halved, and making sure that chills don’t get in through your windows and doors is a good place to start.

There are many products available to help you insulate your home yourself. The cheapest option for hinged casement windows is self-adhesive foam strip which compresses to form a tight seal when the window is closed. However, there are various options available for different types of windows, including spring-seal excluders or brush strips. Check out the Big Green Shop or visit your local DIY store to find the best option for you.

Doors need draught proofing that will withstand a lot of opening and shutting. Try fitting a threshold draught excluder to the base of the door and foam strip, or aluminium strips fitted with plastic seals, to the sides.

Alternatively, you could decide to opt for the more traditional draught excluder made from material. These also work well to keep out chills, but it can be annoying to have to move them every time you want to go out of the door.