Are you suitably dressed? Do you have the right clothes? What’s in fashion this winter? And is it the same for Autumn?

These are good questions for followers of fashion but also for people watching their heating bills this year. And another question, if you are suitably dressed, is your heating suitably controlled?

Take a look at the picture of a University campus.

Can you spot the people, moving between building wearing hats and coats to keep warm? Can you see the golden leaves on the trees in the background and fallen leaves on the grass? This is clearly an autumn scene.

Now take another look now. Can you see that the windows of the student accommodation block are wide open? Not just one window but all the windows on all 4 storeys! So here, the people outside are suitably dressed, but the heating is not suitably controlled. Windows have been opened to make things inside the building more comfortable. Good for fresh air enthusiasts, but what a waste of energy.

This year the fitting of Chalmor’s eTRVs to control radiators in student accommodation blocks or “halls of residence” has been a very popular investment. And, given all the extra fees that students will be paying, they’ll want to see less waste and better value for their money. Wise universities are investing in a simple energy saving upgrade and fitting eTRVs to prevent overheating. They reduce carbon emissions and can pay for themselves in less than a year.

My local university promotes four simple measures:

• Turn it off – switch off lights, PCs, printers, fax machines and other electrical equipment.
• Dress accordingly – put a jumper on in the winter.
• Turn it down – turn radiators down rather than opening a window.
• Utilise energy-efficient products – upgrading or replacing an item, look for the energy-saving option.

My advice, think about your clothing this winter, and be prepared for an extra layer or two instead of an extra degree or two on the heating controls settings.

All good advice and worth a first class degree – and you can save a degree or two on your heating. Less money is wasted on heating and there’s more money to spend on clothes. So, saving energy can make you more fashionable too.

Robert Clubbe – Sales and Marketing Manager