Winter 2025 Heating Hacks: How Europeans Are Cutting Bills Without Renovating

Meteorological services predict one of the coldest winters since 2012. Combined with rising gas and electricity prices, households risk higher consumption and higher bills.

Key causes include:

• reduced hydroelectric output in several European regions
• higher demand from heat pumps and electric heating
• gas price volatility on international markets
• tariff adjustments in many EU member states

Bills may rise by 10 to 25 %, but simple habits can offset a significant share of this increase.

Overheating rooms is one of the biggest sources of waste in winter. Recommended comfort temperatures are:

• 19 °C in the living room
• 17 °C in bedrooms
• 21 °C in the bathroom

Lowering the thermostat by just 1 °C can generate around 7 % savings on heating.

Smart thermostatic valves (around €20–€40 each) help maintain the right temperature in each room automatically.

Most households heat 100 % of the floor area even though they mainly live in a few key rooms. In 2025, the smart approach is to create warm zones where you spend the most time.

Practical ideas:

• thermal curtains in living spaces and bedrooms
• thick rugs to cut heat loss through the floor
• low-power USB heating pads (around 10 W) for desks and sofas
• warm blankets combined with a pre-heated clay brick for evening comfort

Total budget can be under €50, with potential savings of €100–€150 over the winter.

Air leaks around windows and doors can account for up to a quarter of your heating bill.

Quick fixes you can do in a weekend:

• adhesive window seals (€8–€15)
• door draft stoppers (from around €6)
• thermal curtains on doors opening to the outside
• clear insulating film (around €10 per window)

The result is an immediate increase in perceived temperature of around 2 °C without touching the thermostat.

Many people believe they should close everything to keep the heat in. In reality, a humid home feels colder and is harder to heat.

Simple rules:

• air out fully for 5 minutes each morning rather than leaving a window ajar for hours
• use small dehumidifiers in the dampest rooms
• clean and unblock existing vents and grilles

At around 60 % humidity, the perceived temperature can drop by several degrees. Reducing humidity improves comfort without increasing heating power.

Several everyday appliances release useful residual heat:

• computers and internet boxes
• the back of the fridge
• washing machines and tumble dryers

Placing a small reflective panel or insulating board behind these appliances when they sit against an external wall helps keep more of that heat inside the room instead of losing it straight through the wall.

Water heating is often a hidden energy cost in winter, especially in homes with older tanks.

Practical adjustments:

• set the water heater to around 55 °C, which is enough for comfort and hygiene
• use a shower timer to reduce shower length
• install efficient shower heads that can cut water use by 30–40 %

Depending on household size, these changes alone can save up to €130 per year.

The 2025 smart-home market offers many affordable tools that can fine-tune heating without major work.

Useful low-cost devices include:

• simple connected thermostats for individual rooms
• door and window sensors that detect openings
• smart plugs to cut standby consumption

Window sensors can pause radiators automatically when a window is left open and send notifications to your phone, preventing the most obvious waste.

Cooking can help warm the living space when used thoughtfully.

Ideas to try:

• batch-cook several dishes in one oven session to maximise each preheat
• open the oven door after cooking ( safely and away from children ) so the remaining heat spreads into the room
• favour soups, stews, lentils and baked dishes that warm both the body and the home

At the same time, covering pots and using lids that fit properly will cut gas or electricity use while you cook.

LED bulbs are the best option for most of the year: they use very little energy and barely heat up. In winter, you can combine them with a few warm-light sources used selectively.

Ideas for cosy yet efficient lighting:

• warm reading lamps by the sofa or home office desk
• a few low-consumption halogen-style lamps, switched on only when you are in the room

The goal is not to heat with lighting, but to create a warmer and more comfortable atmosphere on dark evenings.

For more winter energy insights:

• Cut your heating bill with 5 habits
• Winter home prep 2025
• Zero-waste winter cooking