Improving how your home utilises energy does more than just save you money each month on your heating bills – it’s one of the best ways of ensuring you and your family stay warm throughout the colder months and it helps the planet too. If you’re looking for ways to make your property more energy efficient, here are six improvements you can make for a positive result that will save you money each year and help lower your energy usage.
Insulate Your Loft Space
If you’ve been noticing a chill recently, it could be your loft space that’s to blame. A large proportion of the heat in your home escapes through the top, as heat rises up and disappears through the roof, meaning you could be paying more for your heating with minimal reward. An easy but highly effective way to improve the heat retention in your home and lower the number of times you need to increase the thermostat is to add insulation to your loft. It’s a change that could save you thousands each year and makes the rest of your home more comfortable throughout the winter.
Choose a Renewable Energy Supply
Renewable energy has become a more popular option in recent years, and with good reason. From ground and air source heat pumps to solar panels and biomass boilers, renewable energy provides you with an easy and efficient way of heating your home by taking advantage of free power. Once installed, renewable energy can reduce your energy bills and require very little maintenance, but with great rewards.
Upgrade to Double Glazing
You might be surprised by just how much heat escapes through your windows if they’re not fully glazed. But upgrading your windows will keep your heating requirements much lower and it offers additional benefits like greater security and less noise pollution. It can be expensive to have double or triple glazing installed in every room in your house, particularly if you have a larger property, but it’s an investment that is well-worth making (if your budget allows) to reduce heat loss and minimise draughts.
Switch to Energy-Efficient LED Bulbs
Switching out your light bulbs for an LED alternative isn’t going to dramatically lower your energy expenditure, but it does make a contribution towards making your home more energy-efficient and they are better for the environment so it’s a win-win for you and the planet. It’s a simple and easy change that will certainly reduce your carbon footprint and electricity bills, especially if you have a lot of light fixtures in your property as the savings soon mount up.
Pay Attention to Energy Ratings on Appliances
From ovens and microwaves to washing machines and refrigerators, the energy rating of the appliances you buy matters. You’ll notice that the range spans from A+ to G, and they are given to appliances based on their size and the amount of electricity they require to operate. If you’re intent on creating a more energy-efficient home, the appliances you use should be a priority as they are items that we use every day, and this can have a big impact on how much energy your home is using long-term. Next time you need to upgrade an appliance, consider the energy rating of the purchase you make.
Upgrade Your Boiler
Replacing an old boiler to a higher-efficiency model is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of energy your home uses. In fact, on average, your boiler accounts for around 55% of your energy costs each year, which is more than all other electrical appliances combined. Modern boilers use much less power to keep your home warm and a combi boiler is even more effective to lower your fuel bills.
Conclusion
There are many ways that you can create a more energy-efficient home, and a good idea before making changes is to request an energy monitor from your supplier to see just how much you’re using. Having the data in front of you can help remind you to switch off lights and appliances when they’re not in use, helping to motivate you to use less energy each day. An energy-efficient home is not only better for your budget, but it also helps to reduce your carbon footprint, saves wildlife habitats and cuts down on your reliance on fossil fuels.
