Save Energy & Money in your home

There are many ways to save money in your home.

See our tips below;

LIFESTYLE

Firstly, look at your Lifestyle and see what simple changes can be made.

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/

• Turn off lights - an obvious one but many homes do not do this simple task (saves approx. £7 per year)

• Do not leave appliances on standby (saves approx.. £45 per year)

• Turn down your thermostat (saves approx.. £45 per degree per year)

• Use energy efficient appliances (if appliance are more than 10 years old (saves approx.. £60 per year with an A-rated appliance)

• Washing Machine: Wash at 30 degrees (uses 40% less energy than 40 degrees and saves approx.  £24 per year)

• Avoid using the tumble dryer (saves approx. £50 per year). Dry clothes on drying racks inside or dry outside when the weather is suitable.

• Avoid overfilling the kettle (saves approx.. £29 per year). 

• Domestic appliances account for approximately 50% of our total domestic electricity consumption so there are easy savings to be made by small changes to your lifestyle.

• Swap a bath for a 4-minute shower (saves approx. £55 per year)

To monitor electricity use, most energy providers now offer free wireless electricity monitors that show you exactly how much energy you are using, so you know how you re spending when boiling the kettle or switching on lights.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

Before you undertake any energy saving measures you should assess the condition of the property, particularly the exterior. If you are unsure about the condition ask an architect or surveyor to provide you with a building condition survey. Houses need checking at least once a year to ensure that any defects are rectified to keep the property in a good state of repair. Leaking gutters left unattended will allow damp to penetrate into rooms and will reduce the energy performance of the property. Windows that need fixing or replacing will let in draughts and waste heat.

Defects in properties often start off as minor problems that can be fixed (i.e. sealing gaps to windows, re-connecting downpipes to gutters etc). Left unattended they can quickly develop into major problems.

If your property is in a good state of repair, then the following items are the easiest and most cost effective ways to save energy in your home:

HEATING

Over 80% of our energy costs are used by heating and hot water so little changes to the settings can make a big difference to your bills. 

Firstly, make sure your boiler is regularly serviced and if it is old then look at

replacing. The most efficient use of heating is to install thermostatic radiator valves so that you can control the temperature in each room, this will prevent wasting heat in rooms when they are not in use.

NOTE:  It is a common myth that leaving your heating on all-day will save you money, it will not.

LIGHTING

Up to 15-20% of your electricity bill is used by lighting. The easiest way to reduce energy consumption is to use low-energy bulbs. They cost more per bulb than incandescent bulbs but are more cost effective over their life span, i.e. a low-energy bulb can save over £60 over its lifetime compared to a standard incandescent using up to 80% less electricity.

INSULATION

Loft insulation-is the main area of the house that you should target as most of the heat in a house is lost due to poorly insulated lofts. Ensure your loft is well insulated and if you have a hot water cylinder it is adequately insulated with a 80mm thick jacket, This can save approx. £40 per year. ALso, ensure that your tanks and pipe are insulated and bleed your radiators once per year.  Also, ensure that any furniture is not touching the radiators as this can cause them to overhear and cause damage to them.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Approx. 20% of a dwellings heating is lost through the air gaps around doors and windows. To reduce gaps;

 

1. Use a quality sealant to fill in any gaps less than 10mm or a self-adhesive draught strip
2. Install good quality heavy curtains to any openings and a portiere to doors (a device that prevent the curtain being trapped in the door when it is opened)
3. Use a draught excluder cushion to prevent draughts under doors
4. Install shutters to windows, these can be insulated and can save up to 50% more energy than curtains!

FLOORS

Make sure you have good, heavy-grade carpets installed. If you have suspended floors with exposed floorboards, ensure that the gaps between the floorboards is filled with a sealant.  Ensure that limit floors are laid on a good morning underlay, many underlays now come with built-in damp-proof membranes.

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While every effort has been made to check the accuracy of this article, readers should always make their own checks.  

The Author does not accept any responsibility for misstatements made or any misunderstandings arising from it.

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