Ten measures to help keep warm and save money, to make sure you can afford to heat your home throughout the winter.

1. Contact Newcastle Warm Zone who will help to insulate your home with cavity wall and/or loft insulation.  You could save up to £300 off your fuel bills!  The Warm Zone will also provide you with 4 free low energy light bulbs.
2. Make sure that the thermostat for your heating system is set at around 21^oC or 70^oF.
3. Wear several layers of clothes rather than one thick layer.  Choose clothes made with wool, cotton or fleecy synthetic fibres.
4. Keep warm, keep moving.  Moving around generates extra body heat, so any kind of activity will help you keep warm.
5. Eat well.  Aim to have at least one hot meal a day and have hot drinks regularly.  Have a hot drink before bedtime.  
6. In very cold weather set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turning the thermostat up.
7. Is your water too hot? Don’t waste energy – your cylinder thermostat shouldn’t be set higher than 60^oC or 140^oF. 
8. Draw your curtains at dusk to keep more heat in your rooms by stopping it escaping through the windows.
9. Turn off lights whenever you leave a room.
10. Remember that wherever possible try to save energy by turning off appliances and lights when not needed, boiling only the required amount of water needed and using energy efficient appliances and light bulbs. 

If you would like further information on saving energy, please call Newcastle City Council's Energy Centre on 0191 281 1303.