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Energy efficiency and environmental awareness are very much on people’s minds these days. This especially applies to the home, where there are ample opportunities to lower our consumption of energy overall. Whether installing energy-efficient devices or changing your daily habits, there are many ways to become a more responsible eco citizen.
Insulate Your Roof and Walls
Insulation is one of the best ways to conserve energy in a home. Not only does insulation prevent warm (and cool) air from escaping, but it can save you hundreds of pounds over the years in heating and cooling costs.
When it comes to pricing, roof insulation is usually affordable at around £300 for an average semi-detached house. However, wall insulation is slightly trickier as it depends on whether your home has solid walls or cavity walls. Solid walls are more expensive and difficult to fill, while cavity walls are simpler and inexpensive.
Double Glaze Your Windows
Windows are another key area of the house that requires energy efficiency. A great deal of heat can escape from single glazed windows, so you’re better off installing or adding uPVC Windows Birmingham as they are known to be thermally efficient. While double glazing can be expensive, it will be worth it in the long run, especially in terms of what you’ll save on your energy bills.
Upgrade Your Boiler
Did you know that an old or inefficient boiler can rack up your energy bills? To figure out whether your boiler needs upgrading, check out its energy efficiency grading. Boilers are rated on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient.
While it might not be at the top of your list, it’s worth knowing that boilers account for 55% of your energy bills. That means a more efficient one can save you hundreds of pounds over the years. A more modern boiler also means that you can upgrade other areas of your house with things like underfloor heating.
Lower Your Thermostat
In terms of day-to-day behaviour, lowering your thermostat is one of the top recommendations for keeping your home energy efficient. While it can be difficult to do this in the winter, even lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees can make a world of difference. It’s also a good idea to set your thermostat on a timer so that you can lower the temperatures even more at night or if you’re out for the day.
Wash Clothes at Lower Temperatures
Washing your clothes at 30C uses as much as 40% less energy than higher temperatures. Where possible, save the higher temperatures for necessities like towels or sheets and wash your everyday clothes at 30C. Many appliances also come with eco functions which allow you to keep the temperature of your washing at reasonable levels.
Install Water-Saving Shower Heads
Many conventional showerheads will use 5 gallons of water per minute. That’s a lot of water to consider when you think of how long you normally stand in a shower. To give Mother Earth a helping hand and become more energy-efficient, consider installing a low-flow showerhead. These devices can halve the amount of water consumed with a flow rate of around 2.5 gallons per minute.
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