Why it costs £425 more to keep women warm in the winter than men
Changing the temperature on the thermostat tends to be the source of many arguments for cohabiting couples
IT costs women living alone £425 more than men to keep warm in winter, a study reveals.
The average female likes the thermostat at 24°C but for males it is 19°C.
In a normal winter and at current energy prices, their heating bills would work out at £655 and £230 respectively.
Blokes are more likely to be in charge of the temperature when a heterosexual couple live together, the Energy Savings Trust found.
A reason why co-habiting Brits find the thermostat to be the cause of so many arguments may be due to the fact nearly nine in ten men constantly turn the thermostat down after their partner has turned it up.
Sixty-nine per cent knew what their thermostat was on, compared to 32 per cent of women.
The research also found an astonishing one in 18 women would like their home to be as hot as 30 degrees.
Scientists believe women feel the cold more when the temperature drops because their fat is distributed around their body compared to a man.
Kirsty Hunt, of Duette, said: "Government health advice puts the ideal living room temperature at 21°C and the rest of the house at 18°C as the optimum for health and wellbeing.
"It's worth highlighting the cost and energy savings that can be made by simple steps such as turning down the thermostat and insulating homes with energy saving products.