How to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Assessing how energy efficient your home is needs to be something you add to your home improvement to-do list. By watching the energy you use and making cutbacks, you can easily save several hundred on your energy bills. Reducing the use of fossil fuels helps to reduce your carbon footprint, too. Here are some tips on how to check and improve the efficiency of your home.
The Heating in the Home
Look at how the home is heated – what energy is being used? Get to know the heating instructions, too, and make sure you have a thermostat if using central heating. The control a thermostat provides you with helps you to reduce those bills and keep your home at a comfortable temperature, especially in the colder weather. Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by just one degree in the winter will save you serious cash when the bill comes.
Insulation in the Loft or Attic
Check to see if the loft is properly insulated, as loft insulation helps to reduce the amount of heat lost through the roof of the home. Homes with loft insulation are cheaper to run and far more energy efficient. If the insulation is old, worn, or thin, consider paying for it to be replaced – you’ll be grateful when the cold weather arrives. It’s a cheap way of making a dramatic difference to how cosy your home feels.
Double- or Triple-Glazed Windows
The type of windows and doors you have in the home will make a big difference to how energy efficient it is. By installing double-glazed windows in the home, the average homeowner is able to save around £100 on their heating bills. Visit http://www.swishwindows.co.uk and look for A-rated double-glazed windows and consider your choice to be a wise investment.
Window and door frames can let a lot of cold air leak into your home and allow warm air to escape. Replacing older frames will reduce the problem caused by these pesky draughts. Look for gaps and fill them in. Put some thick curtains up around the windows and in front of doors to help trap more of the warmth inside your home.
Replace Your Boiler
Old boilers are not designed to be energy efficient, and they only get worse the older they become. Invest in a new boiler, ideally one that is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. You will find energy ratings on boilers (and a lot of other electrical items in the home), with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least. It’s possible to save around £300 if you replace a G-rated boiler with an A-rated alternative. Once you have replaced the boiler consider, working your way through the other appliances in the home. As they become old and less efficient, replace them with A-rated models and save yourself a small fortune each year.
It’s not difficult to improve the energy efficiency of any home. Always consider how you can make changes in the way you heat your home and how the home works for you. Check the property yearly for issues and invest in energy-efficient alternatives.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Source: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Improve-your-home
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