Have you been thinking about making your home more energy efficient? Then what better time is there to do that than during the national Energy Saving Week?
As winter approaches we’ve come to learn that this is the time of year energy companies will increase their gas and electricity prices. And this is happening again this year, with British Gas, SSE and Npower the first three of the ‘big six’ to announce prices are on the up by as much as 10%.
But to help homeowners understand ways to improve the efficiency of their home and counter the price increases, the Energy Saving Trust have been offering advice on energy saving measures.
In order to determine how you can boost the efficiency of your home, you should ask yourself the four questions below. It’s time to find a way to reduce bills, so consider your options:
- Could you benefit from draught proofing?
If you have any draughts or cold spots in your home you’ll be losing a significant amount of the heat you’re producing to keep the property warm. This is simply wasting money and not addressing the problem can have a major impact on your bills. Draughts are evident around the doors and windows so consider efficient replacements such as double glazing. Not only will the draughts be eliminated, but more heat will be retained in the home too, saving even more money.
- How are you heating your home?
Did you know that as much as 60% of your annual bill comes down to heating your home? So you should probably think about how the heat is being controlled in your home and look to reduce expenses. A good place to start is the radiators. Only turn on the radiators in rooms you’re using, as anything else is a waste. Also consider turning the thermostat down by a single degree. This could save you as much as £65 a year without you even noticing a difference in your home’s temperature.
- How efficient is your boiler?
The efficiency of your boiler will have a massive impact on how expensive your energy bills will be. If your boiler is older than 10-years then it could well be working at just 70% efficiency. This is opposed to a modern–rated system which can have efficiencies over 95%. And with a replacement you can save as much as £310 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust. When you have the new boiler fitted the chances are the boiler engineer will carry out a powerflush to clean out your pipes and radiators so your heating will be as efficient as possible.
- Do you have sufficient insulation?
Heat can be lost in a number of ways in the home, but typically through the roof and walls. Insulation is a great way to deal with the issue and even better news, it’ll pay for itself with the money you save on heating bills. Heat naturally rises so your first port of call should be the roof or loft. Loft lagging can be fitted to ensure heat doesn’t pass through and exit your property. Then look to the walls. If your property was built post 1920, the chances are you have cavity walls, so insulation can be pumped between the two layers of brick. With insulation you can save hundreds of pounds every year.