How efficient is your home? Are your energy bills sky-high leaving you with little disposable income at the end of every month? If so then it’s time to look at ways you can make your home greener and in turn, become more energy efficient.
And there are plenty of options available to you, depending on what’s affordable and which measures need implementing.
Below we give you five excellent tips for ‘greening’ up your home, which will help you to reduce those expensive energy bills and save a wealth of money.
1. Insulation
One of the very best ways to save money on your energy bills is with the heating. After all, [tweetable]heating accounts for around 60% of your annual expenses[/tweetable]. By improving the insulation in your home you’ll lock more heat inside and ensure there’s no need to turn up the thermostat if you want to stay warm. Insulation can be improved throughout the home, from the loft, to the walls and even the floor. [tweetable]Consider 270mm of loft lagging to save around £200 a year on bills[/tweetable].
2. Windows
How old are your windows? Are they single glazed? Nowadays the most efficient homes have double or triple glazed windows because they’re manufactured to retain heat. You can choose the window frames that appeal to you and slash bills by around £200 a year with double glazing. Even if your property is in a Conservation Area, consider secondary glazing for improved insulation.
3. Biomass
[tweetable]Any heating system over 15 years old will be inefficient and you could be wasting as much as £310 a year[/tweetable] according to the Energy Saving Trust. A biomass boiler gives you the opportunity to use natural products which are much cheaper to burn than fossil fuels. Commonly, wood chips are burned to generate heat for your home.
4. Solar panels
The chances are you’ve heard about solar panels and have some knowledge. But do you know about the full potential on offer? Solar PV systems generate electricity by converting the sun’s natural energy rays. They’re fixed to rooftops and work throughout the year, reducing your annual bills. But with a range of incentives there’s a fantastic return on investment to be made. The Government’s feed-in tariff scheme will pay you over £500 a year for the power you produce and you can even sell excess electricity to the grid.
5. Lighting
Over the last 50 years or so our homes have gradually become filled with electrical appliances. And because of this, [tweetable]electricity usage has increased an average of 2% each year for every home in the UK[/tweetable]. But there are options to reduce electricity usage, and with your lighting you could consider energy saving light bulbs. They last longer than regular bulbs and won’t use as much power.
Facts & Figures You’ll Love To Share
- [tweetable alt=””]Your heating accounts for around 60% of your annual energy bill.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]270mm of loft insulation can save you up to £200 a year on your heating bill.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]A boiler aged over 15-years could be wasting you £310 a year on bills.[/tweetable]
- [tweetable alt=””]Electricity usage in the home has increased 2% annually over the last 50 years.[/tweetable]