Experts have criticised the World Health Organisation’s advice to set central heating at a chilly 18°C this winter, saying home temperatures that low could lead to illness, poor health and mould. The Mail has the story.
As temperatures begin to fall across the U.K., many of us will soon be considering turning up the thermostat.
But with the cost of energy at an eye-watering high, nobody wants to waste a penny on unnecessary heating.
The World Health Organisation‘s (WHO) recommended temperature for your home is a chilly 18°C (64.4°F).
However, experts have slammed the global health body’s recommendation, saying this could lead to illness and poor health.
In order to stay warm and safe this winter, health experts instead say the thermostat should be set to at least 20°C (68°F).
That’s just slightly warmer than the U.K.’s preferred temperature of 19.5°C (67.1°F), which was revealed in a survey of 2,000 Britons.
And it’s not just experts who have slammed the WHO’s suggested thermostat temperature, with several members of the public flocking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their outrage.
One enraged commenter wrote: “I’ll determine the temperature I want my thermostat based on my preference and it’s no one’s business but me.”
According to the WHO, a temperature of 18°C is all that is needed for most healthy people who are dressed appropriately.
The WHO says: “Indoor housing temperatures should be high enough to protect residents from the harmful health effects of cold.
“For countries with temperate or colder climates, 18°C has been proposed as a safe and well-balanced indoor temperature to protect the health of general populations during cold seasons.”
However, heating experts say that this target might be too low for many people to remain comfortable.
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