Britain is in the middle of the coldest October in five years. Night time temperatures are dropping to record lows and the days don’t bring much relief. Some areas have even experienced their first serious frosts or even snow. With temperatures this low so early in the winter season, utility bills are set to soar, along with the sale of home heating appliances such as portable air conditioners and gas heaters.
Credit crunch and belt-tightening efforts notwithstanding, the primary concern this winter will be staying warm, and for those without fireplaces or underfloor heating, wall-mounted or free-standing portable air conditioning units will go a long way toward keeping the cold at bay.
Meteorologists are divided as to how long the bitterly cold weather will last, with some predicting that it will be over by the beginning of November, after which the season is expected to be mild, although still colder than last winter. Others, however, believe that the early cold sets the pattern for the rest of the year, and that Arctic winds will continue to bring below freezing weather to the UK and Ireland.
To reduce the costs of heating and curb greenhouse emissions, consumers are advised to check their insulation and if their heating systems are programmable, to set them to go on half an hour minutes before getting up in the mornings and again before getting home in the evenings. Heating units shouldn’t be left to run overnight and should be switched off about half an hour before bed.
