As energy prices rise, many look for ways to reduce home energy consumption without compromising living comfort. One of the most effective and proven methods is to lower the indoor temperature slightly – and combine this with practical solutions such as a thermal mat, especially in entryways where underfloor heating often works inefficiently.
How much energy is saved by lowering the temperature by one degree?
Both Finnish and Swedish energy advisory organizations provide a very consistent estimate: lowering the indoor temperature by one degree reduces heating energy demand by about 5%.
This estimate appears in several sources:
A one-degree drop in room temperature reduces heating costs by about 5% and saves approximately 500 kWh per year in a house with a heating consumption of 10,000 kWh. (Voimatori, Savon Voima)
This means that even a small change – for example, going from 22 degrees to 21 degrees – can result in a clear saving over the entire heating season.
Why is the entryway a problem area for home energy efficiency?
The entryway is one of the most challenging spaces in the home from a heat management perspective. There are two reasons:
1. Opening the front door causes significant heat loss
When the front door is opened during winter cold, cold air flows in and sinks to the floor. This immediately creates a cold spot at floor level. According to the Swedish Energy Agency, doors and windows are significant sources of heat loss, and cold air enters especially when the door is opened.
2. Underfloor heating reacts slowly
Underfloor heating works through thermal mass, making it comfortable but slow. When cold air flows into the entryway, underfloor heating cannot quickly compensate for the sudden temperature drop. According to the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket), underfloor heating provides steady but slow heating and is not designed for rapid temperature changes.
This results in the entryway floor feeling cold for a long time after the door is opened, even though the rest of the house remains warm.
Why is the thermal mat especially useful in the entryway?
The Dry Step™ thermal mat is not an electric heating device but an insulating and heat-retaining mat that affects comfort and energy efficiency differently than underfloor heating.
1. The thermal mat feels warm immediately
Because the thermal mat’s foam structure does not conduct heat away from the foot as quickly as a hard floor, it feels warmer immediately when stepped on. This is a significant advantage in the entryway, where the floor can be cold after opening the front door.
2. The thermal mat slows down floor cooling
When cold air flows in, a hard floor cools quickly. The thermal mat’s insulating structure acts as a buffer:
- it slows the effect of cold air,
- it reduces sudden temperature fluctuations,
- it keeps the surface underfoot feeling more even.
3. The thermal mat reduces the need for underfloor heating to compensate for cold spots
Because the thermal mat evens out the effect of cold air, underfloor heating does not need to react as strongly to temperature changes in the entryway. This can reduce energy consumption, especially in winter when the door is opened multiple times a day.
4. Better comfort with less overall heating
When feet feel warm, the overall home temperature can be lowered more easily without sacrificing comfort. This directly supports energy-saving goals and makes a one-degree temperature drop easier to accept.
Summary
Lowering the temperature by one degree saves about 5% of heating energy.
The entryway is the home’s largest source of heat loss due to the front door and cold air.
Underfloor heating reacts slowly, so the entryway easily feels cold.
The thermal mat does not actively heat but its insulating structure feels warm and evens out the effect of cold air.
Together, these enable both energy savings and better everyday comfort.
