In Britain, the climate is not very good. There are very few hot days and it rains a lot. Because of this, people spend a lot of time at home. Generally, British homes have a lot of furniture in them, carpets on the floors and heavy curtains.

Many houses in Britain are old. Many of them are over one hundred years old. Often, they do not have enough insulation and the heat goes out through the windows, the doors and up the chimney.

Because of the climate, people in Britain have to spend a lot of money on heating. Many houses have a special system called "central heating". This heats all the rooms and, at the same time, heats the hot water. Houses without central heating often have gas, electric or coal fires. The rooms in most British houses are quite small.
New houses are much better. They have two layers of glass in the windows to stop the heat going out.
1. How does the heat go out of the houses?
2. Do people in Britain have to spend a lot of money on heating because of the weather?
4. What do houses without central heating often have