When the cold months arrive, properly heating and cooling our homes becomes a top priority. Our goal is to create a comfortable environment without using more energy or spending more money than is strictly necessary. That’s why it’s especially important to implement a series of strategies that will help us achieve the ideal temperature in our homes during the winter.

The fact is, sustainability isn’t at odds with enjoying a “cozy” home between December and March. Fortunately, there are very simple ways to generate the heat we need in a cost-effective manner and, most importantly, to retain it for several hours. And today we want to share the most interesting ones with you so you can start using them in your home right away, now that winter is knocking on our door. Will you join us?

Ideal Home Temperature in Winter: Sustainability Tips

The first step: finding out what the ideal temperature is

Logically, we can’t set a goal of keeping our home at an ideal temperature if we don’t know what that temperature is. So take note, because according to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), thermal comfort in winter falls within the range of 21°C to 23°C. In fact, this recommendation even applies to the summer months (with a maximum of 25°C), because temperatures above or below this range would negatively affect indoor humidity.

It’s no surprise, then, that during the colder months, we should also aim to maintain a relative humidity level between 40 and 50%. So our home should be equipped with sensors and thermometers that allow us to measure these two parameters at all times, so we know whether we’re within the appropriate ranges or need to make some adjustments to achieve the right balance.

Thermal insulation is essential for maintaining the ideal temperature in the home during the winter

During the cold months, we’ll only have the windows open for a short time, so all the effort we put into heating our home shouldn’t go to waste because of poor insulation. In the worst-case scenarios, it’s estimated that we could lose up to 80% of the heat we generate—for example, through radiators—can be lost. In 25% of cases, this energy escapes through the exterior walls; windows account for 18%, floors for 7%, and the ceiling or roof for 30%.

Therefore, having good thermal insulation in our home is cost-effective from every perspective. According to estimates by IDAE, preventing energy loss could save us between 25 and 30% on our energy bill—a significant amount when you consider that, on average, each Spaniard spends nearly 1,100 euros a year to keep their home at a comfortable temperature.

In this article, we offer some tips for insulating your home, though we’d like to emphasize the importance of insulating or eliminating thermal bridges (areas where heat escapes) in key areas such as doors and windows, checking the condition of materials to prevent cracks or holes from forming, using weatherstripping on frames, and covering surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or floors with high-quality materials that properly insulate the home from the outside.

Ventilation, yes, but be careful

Opening the windows can cause us to lose about 20% of the heat we’ve generated in our home, so it’s something we should do with special care. Of course, ventilation is necessary to refresh stale air, eliminate dust mites and odors, and regulate humidity; but that doesn’t mean we should do it indiscriminately.

To keep this ventilation to a minimum, we can promote cross-ventilation to create air currents that do the job more effectively. We can also open the windows at noon or when the sun is shining directly , to take advantage of these warmer hours and minimize the heat loss resulting from this action.

During the day, it maximizes the amount of sunlight coming in

Take advantage of the sun’s energy to heat your home, especially if its orientation allows you to benefit from the first rays of the day. Raise the blinds first thing in the morning and try to open the curtains so that light can reach every corner of your home. And if you have the opportunity, consider installing a solar panel system, because it’s a sustainable and cost-effective technology in the long run that will allow you to generate your own energy to use wherever you need it, such as for heating your home.

At night, close the blinds and keep the doors shut

When the sun goes down and you turn on the lights, lower the blinds in your home to improve its thermal insulation. By doing so, you’ll ensure that energy isn’t lost through the window panes or frames.

In addition, if you won’t be going in or out, you can also close as many doors in your home as possible, especially in the rooms where you are and want to keep the heat in. The smaller and more airtight the space you want to heat or cool, the easier it will be to achieve the result you’re looking for.

Connect your heating system to a digital thermostat

Let technology do some of the work to achieve the ideal temperature in your home during the winter. If you install a digital thermostat in your home and connect it to your heating system, not only will you be able to easily check the current temperature at any time, but you’ll also be able to control and adjust its operation — and even automate it— so that it turns on or off based on the time of day or the temperature it detects in the rooms.

Use thermal curtains

If your home’s thermal insulation isn’t optimal, using thermal curtains will help minimize heat loss through windows —or even doors, if you hang them in front of them. These curtains are made of insulating materials that can block drafts and even external noise, as they also work well as sound barriers.

Use rugs and/or carpets

To insulate the floor effectively, use rugs that provide comfort and warmth. Fabrics like wool, cotton, velvet, or corduroy are perfect for this time of year because of their ability to retain heat; the same goes for thicker designs, since long or curly pile feels comfortable to the touch and underfoot.

It’s best to turn off the heat at night

One of the biggest questions that comes up when trying to maintain the ideal temperature at home during the winter is whether we should leave the heat on at night. Well, the answer depends on the quality of our home’s thermal insulation, because if it’s adequate it’s best to turn it off before going to sleep.

The reason is that we’re less active during these hours, so we’ll lose less body heat. Not to mention that simply getting into bed will also help us maintain an optimal temperature, because we can wear warm clothes, close the windows, and lower the blinds.

So, the best option is to turn the heat back on shortly after getting up, once we’ve properly aired out the house. However, that said, if we’re only going to be away from home for a few hours, the most efficient choice is to turn the heat down to the lowest setting without turning it off completely, because if we turn it off entirely, it will use more energy when we return and need to turn it back on to heat the entire house again.

At CULMIA, we work to provide you with sustainable and comfortable homes

Here are some tips to help you maintain the ideal temperature in your home during the winter. But if you’d like to learn more about how to enjoy a healthy and eco-friendly home, feel free to download our free guide.

In this article, we explain the key aspects of sustainable construction and share how we at CULMIA work to offer modern homes that are not only comfortable but also energy-efficient. We hope you enjoy it!

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