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UK Households Turn to Bubble Wrap and Electric Blankets as Energy Costs Rise

Insurers warn of policy risks when homes are left too cold.

Overview

  • The Ofgem price cap rose by 2% for October to January, prompting millions to seek immediate, low-cost ways to cut heating bills.
  • Households are applying bubble wrap to windows as a quick insulator, with suppliers advising a trim-to-fit approach, a light mist of water, and the bubble side pressed to the glass.
  • Users report reduced visibility but continued daylight through bubble-wrapped panes, with no marks left on removal and potential gains for older or single-glazed windows.
  • Energy experts recommend electric blankets as a cheaper alternative to whole-house heating, echoing the “heat the human, not the home” approach popularized by Martin Lewis.
  • Advisers caution that letting homes get too cold can invalidate insurance and note many boiler policies require recent servicing, while longer-term upgrades such as loft insulation and heat pumps are supported by a £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.