A POSTMAN says he is saving thousands on gas bills — because he can heat his home with just two tealights.
Steven Halford’s three-bed semi should cost about £2,500 a year to heat.
Jason ByeSteven Halford says he is saving thousands on gas bills — because he can heat his home with just two tealights[/caption]
But the ultra energy-efficient Passive House has high levels of insulation, special glazing and advanced ventilation.
Steven lives with partner Lyn Gunn, 49, and children Harry, 21, and Taye, 13, in the £340,000 build in Hickling, Norfolk.
The 54-year-old said: “Homes are losing too much heat. So you start off with a large amount of insulation.”
A ventilation system lets out moist air and brings in fresh, heating as it does so.
He goes on: “You have a house full of warm fresh air. Plus, it is highly filtered.
“The angle of the house is calculated to allow enough sunlight in the windows during winter months but not too much in summer.
“Occasionally, the temperature will get down to around 18C and my girlfriend says she feels cold.
“But we just light tealights and it warms right up.”
There are only about 1,000 German-inspired Passive Houses in the UK.
Steven said: “We have the leakiest houses in Europe.”
D-DAY VET’S METER WOE
A D-DAY hero kept warm under tea towels as his gas meter was faulty.
Ivor Gardner, 103, wore oven gloves as he restricted himself to six hours of heating daily.
He was worried over bills as OVO failed to fix the meter five times.
Ivor of Chippenham, Wilts, said: “I felt they were waiting for me to die.”
Ovo has apologised.