7 Tips to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Your house is a small ecosystem and a place where we like to feel nice and warm. Improving energy performance can have a high impact on energy consumption and more importantly, your wallet. According to the Energy Saving Trust, around 22% of carbon emissions come from our home. So, it’s certainly a good place to start!
Would you like to spend less on energy bills? Whether you own your own home or rent a property, there are many ways to make your home more energy-efficient. If you want to save energy and money, we have the tips you need! Let’s dive into it.
Home Energy Saving Tips
Each of us is responsible for the energy we use, and waste, in our homes. There are so many energy saving tips for your home that will save you energy and money. Here, we have narrowed it down to some of the most important techniques, take a look below:
1. Add ceiling and roof Insulation
You’ve probably heard this a lot, but ceiling and roof insulation really does save you a lot of money. Insulating the areas of your home may cost a lot now and it might take a bit of time, but trust us, it’s totally worth it in the long run. Not only does insulation dramatically reduce heat loss but it will in turn save you a lot of money on bills. Having an insulated and well-permeable ceiling means keeping the house warm in the winter and keeping it cool in the summer.
2. Make sure you have floor Insulation
Floor insulation is most commonly done when putting a new floor in place, but most floors can be retrofitted with insulating material, making a huge difference to heat loss through your floors. Adding an insulating material, can prevent heat loss from the floor and sealing the gaps between the skirting boards and the floor, may help in reducing draughts. Our products provide high quality performance to ensure you a cost-effective floor insulation.
3. Install high quality wall insulation
Insulating your walls alone can save you up to 40% in heating bills. Put simply, wall insulation will help to protect you against the cold in winter and also against excess heat in the summer months (although that might be a lesser problem in Ireland!) If your walls aren’t insulated, heat will be transferred through the walls and lost. The result? Big prices to pay in terms of heat loss. You can also add plasterboard over your insulation for a smooth finish.
4. Check and seal all air leaks in your home
Check carefully for air leaks, especially where there are windows, doors and baseboards. There are many products that you can use without spending a lot of money to seal and close these cracks. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills.
Another important step is to draught proof your garage. Garages are notorious for having many gaps and cracks, and these gaps are a big culprit for energy loss. Be sure to fill in any gaps with a high quality sealant.
5. Buy a smart thermostat to keep on top of energy usage
A smart thermostat is controlled by Wi-fi and is designed to control the home's heating system. It automatically adjusts and gradually changes the temperature inside your home meaning less waste, more efficiency and more comfort. It allows you to change the temperature depending on a number of conditions. For example, if the temperature is below 5 degrees, you are able to set an optimal heating temperature. You can also adjust your temperature remotely and look at your energy consumption in real time.
You can get smart thermostats from a range of different electric appliance shops across the UK. Shops include Currys, Screwfix, and Amazon.
6. Change to energy efficient options
Lighting takes up a considerable amount of energy. Using LEDs bulbs will help you to reduce energy and costs long-term in your household. Initially, LED bulbs cost more than conventional bulbs, but the long-term savings are worth it. Research shows that an LED with 5 watts can do the same job as a filament bulb of 40 watts. As well as energy-efficient light bulbs, making changes to other appliances can make a massive difference. You can also consider energy-efficient dishwashers, ovens, and fridge-freezers to save on your energy.
7. Conserve your water
Having low-flow plumbing fixtures is critical to reducing the amount of water that your home uses. You can also use energy efficient shower heads. Or if you’d prefer, simply try and reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower or if you have baths, swap them for a shower. According to research, a typical bath uses 80 litres of water, whereas a shower uses 60 litres, therefore you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
Need help to Save Energy at Home?
We hope you have found this post on energy saving tips helpful. Start small by implementing a few of these steps, and gradually work your way up to adding more. The U Value Insulation team is available to give you tailored advice on what will work best for you and your home as well as support you throughout the project.
For further information please visit: https://www.uvalueinsulations.co.uk/contact or phone: London: +44 20 3481 1322 or Manchester: +44 151 546 3260.