Winter fuel bills seemed to go through the roof last year, and with the current financial situation and oil price, costs don't look like they'll be dropping drastically any time soon. By making sure that your house is well insulated against the cold winter months, you could be helping to save the planet, whilst saving yourself a bit of hard earned cash. It tends to be old builds that are lacking in the insulation department. But the insulation found in new homes and apartments can all usually be improved upon.



So follow our list of cost-effective ways to shrink your gas bill this year:

Insulate your attic properly

If your attic does not have at least 12 inches of insulation then you are losing too much heat. Add some inches to your current insulating barrier by buying a roll of vermiculate, cellulose, or any other paperless insulator. This isn't the most effective long term solution as this type of insulation tends to compact over the years, decreasing its efficacy, but in the short term it should help you save cash.

Keep doors and windows weathertight

More heat than you may suspect is lost through gaps around doors and window frames. The good news is that weatherstripping materials that stop these gaps are cheap and easy to apply.One piece of advice though is to do your weathersealing in temperatures above 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so that the strips remain pliable. You should always apply the strips to completely dry and clean areas so that good contact is made and the weathersealing lasts for as long as possible.

Insulate smaller areas with expanding foam

Most houses have little nooks and crannies that let heat escape. But by filling these wherever possible with expansion foam you'll be able to trap that heat, however small, and make a difference to your family's future fuel bills.Look below stairsYou may have thought that heat can't escape a basement, but you'd be wrong. Basements that have been left unfinished are particularly vulnerable. But there is plenty you can do below stairs to combat this. In much the same way as insulation can be laid down in an attic, the same insulation types can be used in the basement to fill small spaces and crevices.Curtains

This has got to be the easiest step towards a warmer more energy efficient home. Just by hanging blinds or curtains on every window in your house, you'll be helping to protect your home at its most vulnerable spots. Windows are bound to let more heat escape than big thick stone walls, especially if these windows are old, but blinds and curtains can prevent drafts getting in and heat getting out!