In this day and age, the cost of running a home is astronomical for some and unaffordable for others. Making your home more energy-efficient is a great way of helping improve its performance without having to rely so much on conducting a full renovation to fix the problems that are causing too high a cost.
A lot of efforts can be made in the way of draft-proofing doors and windows, and adding insulation to the loft.
This guide will help make your home more energy efficient with just a few impressionable changes and updates required.
Quick and easy energy savers to try
If you’re looking for the quick and easy energy saver solutions, then this is a good place to start if you’re not wanting to spend too much in the way of money.
Draught-proofing
A lot of warmth can escape through the seals around your windows and doors. These seals can become compromised over time due to wear and tear or ill-fitted windows and doors to begin with. Sealing those gaps helps to prevent warm air from escaping.
Using things like draft excluders at the bottom of doors, it helps to improve the insulation in subtle but significant ways.
LED lighting
Switching all bulbs to LEDs helps to consume up to 80% less energy than traditional options. They last a lot longer, too, so it might be a good idea to take a look at what lighting might need replacing for these more modern and energy-efficient options.
Smart thermostats
Installing smart controls is a good way to optimize your heating schedules, and that can be a great way of reducing your energy usage.
If you’ve not got a smart thermostat in place, then it can be helpful to place one in your home sooner rather than later, especially when your utility bills take away a lot of your income.
Reflect heat
Simple ways of maximizing your heating include reflecting heat. Place radiator foil or reflective panels behind your radiators. This will help reflect heat into the room, instead of it just going directly upwards and getting lost in space above you.
Hot water tank insulation
Adding a jacket to your hot water tank is a cheap and cheerful way to improve efficiency and allow your heating to work better for you and your home.
Insulation upgrades to consider
Insulation upgrades are a big factor when it comes to improving the efficiency of the home. The more insulation you can add to the space, the better it can be for your utility costs. You’ll end up using less energy, which lowers the money you’re spending overall.
Loft insulation
Top up any loft insulation that might be missing from your current roof space. Sometimes, over time, insulation ends up being less effective, and so replacing that insulation may prove beneficial.
A lot of heat loss can be generated through the roof space, so the more efficient the insulation, the better.
Internal insulation
In some situations, internal insulation might be necessary to add some warmth to the space. Adding internal insulation to solid walls and doing this one room at a time can be a cost-effective way of adding insulation over time. Use materials like sheep wool to improve the efficiency of the wall insulation you add to each room.
Thermal curtains
When decorating each room, it’s helpful to be mindful of what materials you’re using to keep your home warm, especially on the windows themselves. Thermal curtains are a good way to prevent heat from escaping windows.
Consider replacing old windows and doors
While it might not be something you want to do due to the cost that comes with it, eventually, it will become something you’ll have to fix. Otherwise, your bills will continue to rise, and you’ll be wasting money on heating that you could have just spent on investing in custom fit windows.
It’s good practice to check all of your windows and doors for any signs of wear and tear so that these can be replaced as soon as they start underperforming or become a bit of a safety hazard.
Habit changes to improve the efficiency of your home and to lower your costs
Some of the best ways to save money on your home and make it more energy efficient are shifting your habits to more eco-friendly and sustainable ones. Here are some suggestions that might help to implement
Heating and cooling habits
Turning down your thermostat by just 1 or 2 degrees can reduce the heating bills by up to 10%, depending on the time of year. It’s good to keep doors closed to contain heat where you are, as well as turning off radiators in rooms that aren’t in use.
Make use of natural heat by opening up your curtains and blinds during the day in order to let in the sunlight and close them at sunset to trap the heat. Keep your radiators clear too, in order to allow some warm air to circulate around more freely. As well as this, simply wearing more layers is also a good way to reduce your reliance on central heating.
Kitchen and cooking habits
Try to only boil what you need when filling your kettle to save energy. Putting lids on pans will cook food faster and bring water to the boil quicker, too. Batch cooking helps to save money as well as freezing meals that you won’t be able to eat during the week.
Laundry and cleaning habits
When washing your clothing, wash at a lower temperatgure and air dryer instead of using the tumble dryer instead. Get your clothes outside to dry when the weather gets better. Fuller loads are going to be better when washing your clothing too.
Daily electricity and water habits
Try to eliminate the standby mode with your appliances around the home. Turn everything off by unplugging the appliances instead. You could look to switch all your lights to LEDs where applicable.
Reduce shower time to around four minutes to save on water heating costs and fix leaks to help fix dripping taps, which waste a lot of water over time if not addressed.
Making your home more energy efficient this year is an effort that some can’t afford not to do, so implement some of these tips where you can.
