NEW research has found that households putting their health in danger by rationing energy use are saving less than they may have anticipated.

Working with the University of Salford, fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA), found that households rationing energy use below 18°C made savings amounting to 66p per day.

For healthy adults, 18°C is the recommended minimum temperature to avoid risks to respiratory and cardiovascular health.

With bills set to climb for a second time this winter in January, and cuts to winter fuel payments, the situation is likely to worsen.

NEA chief executive Adam Scorer said: “Every day, our advisers speak to clients who turn down their heating below a healthy level of warmth. 

“They hope to save pounds every day. Our work with Salford shows the cost difference could be much less than most people think.”  

“At the same time, the health and wellbeing impact of a home heated below 18 degrees can be far worse than people know.”

“We know that rationing and self-disconnecting comes at an unacceptable price to their health and wellbeing.”

Mr Scorer suggested that bringing in a larger energy discount or a new social tariff could protect low-income households.

“Crucially, the government’s Warm Homes Plan needs to invest in energy efficiency to make fuel poor homes cheaper and easier to heat,” he added.