Make a draft excluder

Fuel poverty happens when people can’t afford enough energy to keep their homes warm. This can make their house cold and uncomfortable, and it can even make them sick. Staying warm is important, especially when it’s cold outside, and insulation can help a lot with that. 

Insulation works like a blanket for your house, trapping the heat inside so it doesn’t escape through the walls, windows, or doors. If a house doesn’t have good insulation, heat can slip out, and people need to use more energy, such as turning the heating on, to keep it warm. This can be a big problem if paying for that energy is too expensive. 

There are some simple ways people can keep their homes warmer without using too much energy. Things like using draft stoppers at the bottom of doors, closing the curtains, putting rugs on the floor, wearing layers of clothing, or even using blankets can all help. These small changes can make the house feel warmer without needing to spend a lot of money or use extra energy. 

Insulation’s a material that slows down the movement of heat, helping keep hot things hot and cold things cold for a longer time. You can think of it like a barrier for your house or your drink. For example, when you use a flask to keep your soup warm or your drink cold, the thermos is made of insulating material that stops heat from escaping or getting in. Heat naturally moves from warmer places to cooler places. If you have something hot, such as a cup of tea, the heat will try to spread to the cooler air around it. However, insulating materials stop or slowdown that movement, keeping the heat inside the cup. The same goes for cold things, such as ice in a cooler, as insulation stops the warmer outside air from getting in and melting the ice. Insulation acts like a barrier to keep the temperature where you want it—whether that's hot or cold. It also helps reduce energy costs and keeps homes warm, which is especially important for people dealing with fuel poverty.