As temperatures plummet and fuel prices rise, finding easier ways to save energy is top of everyone’s list. Yet research show that nearly 33% of us are missing out on one of the simplest money and energy saving opportunities – simply turning our heating thermostat down.

Between 18- 21°C is enough to keep our homes at a comfortable temperature although 32% of us permanently crank the thermostat above this recommended figure, overheating the rooms and spending more than necessary on our fuel bills.

Turning your thermostat down just one degree can see savings of up to 10 per cent a year on fuel bills. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that 18°C is a suitable figure for healthy people who are appropriately dressed. It recommends a minimum of 20°C for anyone who is sick, disabled, very old or very young and a minimum of 16°C for anyone with allergies or respiratory conditions.

Martyn Bridges of the Worcester, Bosch group which commissioned the research, said: “We all have our habits, and how we set and use our heating is certainly one of them. Breaking this is the hardest part so if you feel you have your thermostat set too high it can be worth trying to turn it down by one degree. For many of us this won’t actually affect our comfort – some people may not even notice a difference – but it is one of those small changes that could make a big impact on heating bills.”

Other saving tips from Worcester which helps make the most of our heating without overspending include:

Rather than reaching for the thermostat, use your controls on the radiator. This can increase the heat where you need it and reduce it where you don’t.

Don’t assume all areas of your home need to be the same temperature. Living areas should be between 18–21°C to suit your comfort level but bedrooms can be slightly lower at around 16-18°C.

Furniture or long curtains block a surprising amount of heat and stop it circulating around the room while drying clothes on the radiator will make the air more humid and feel colder as well as make your boiler work harder.

An old boiler of 15 years or more is only around 60 – 70% efficient, meaning that for every pound spent on fuel, as much as 40p is wasted. Updating your heating system to an ‘A’ rated condensing boiler could make your system over 90 per cent efficient.

By turning down the heat to 22°C, an office building such as Gherkin could potentially save a staggering £47,950 each year, let alone reduce its carbon footprint.