Energy saving measures mooted by survey respondents included delaying switching the heating on, leaving rooms unheated and leaving energy-hungry devices unused.

One in ten will keep the heating on by making cutbacks in other areas of spending, the study by Gocompare.com found.

Measures homeowners plan to take to reduce their energy use this winter include:

• Leaving it as long as possible before turning on the central heating (42%)
• Turning down the thermostat (40%)
• Heating homes for less time (32%)
• Not heating unused rooms (31%)
• Not using energy-hungry devices such as tumble dryer (19%)

The survey also suggests many will be employing traditional techniques to warm themselves:

• 36% plan to seek refuge under blankets and duvets around the house
• 28% will wear socks to bed
• 27% will use a hot water bottle
• 13% will wear thermal underwear

Despite 11 per cent admitting they were cold last winter trying to keep bills down, 53 per cent of those surveyed haven’t switched energy supplier in over three years.

Gocompare.com is calling on these people to investigate switching, as 51 per cent of customers who switched gas and electricity supplier via the site’s comparison service consequently saved £291 or more.

Tom Lewis, Gocompare.com energy spokesman, said: “The winter months are a peak period for higher fuel bills, so now’s a good time to look at your fuel bills to make sure you’re getting a good deal.  There are some very competitive energy deals currently on the market and simply switching suppliers could make a big difference for many people this winter.”

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