Learn how to make your home more energy efficient. There are many changes you can make to how you use your kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom and conservatory that will reduce your fuel bills and help you reduce your carbon footprint.
Many of these changes won’t require very much effort at all, yet can bring you the valuable outcome you desire.
Kitchen
Let’s start by looking at your kitchen. If you’re considering refurbishing your kitchen, now may be the perfect time to make it more energy-efficient. However, there are still great things you can do in terms of how you use your kitchen even if you’re not redesigning it completely.
There have been substantial changes in how products are designed and manufactured in recent years, with manufacturers going further and further to make their products more energy-efficient. Customers can now select from a wealth of affordable, dependable and eco-friendly kitchen products from various trusted brands.
Some of the latest refrigerators even allow you to measure your power consumption in real-time. EU product energy labels are now found on many appliances and include ratings of between A-G, including A+, A++ and A+++, with G being the lowest ranking.
You should also think about size, as larger appliances will cost more to run. You can also reduce power usage in the kitchen by only using extractor fans sparingly. Avoid using your washing machine whenever possible. You may also wish to wash your plates by hand rather than using your dishwasher too frequently.
Heat pump technology has made modern tumble dryers more energy-efficient over recent years, with the highest-rating dishwashers and washing machines using less water. Modern, energy-efficient A-rated boilers can save you a great deal in the long run, as can eco-friendly lighting solutions, including LEDs and halogen bulbs.
Bedroom
It also easier to save money in the bedroom than you might expect.
Although bedrooms aren’t as heavily associated with energy consumption as bathrooms and kitchens, you might be surprised to learn how much power is used in the average one.
Heating can use a lot of energy, particularly during those British winters! To prevent using as much power to heat your room, make sure your space has high quality double glazing and effective thermal insulation to keep out the chill.
Invest in thick, heavy curtains to trap warm air in your bedroom and block sunlight in the summer.
Remember to unplug devices such as laptops and phone chargers when they are not in use. Use a power strip so you don’t have to unplug each device individually and sleep with the lights off if possible. A dimmer can be very convenient if you like to maintain a low level of light whilst you sleep.
Bathroom
There are also substantial savings to be made in the bathroom. The best thing you can do in terms of energy-efficiency is to reduce your water usage. Moving water around your home requires a great deal of power, as does heating it.
Many energy customers have been able to reduce their water consumption by taking steps such as investing in high-efficiency shower heads that don’t compromise the quality of showers. High-efficiency taps, and low-flow toilets can also make a big difference to your bills, as can utilising eco-friendly lighting solutions like LEDs.
Conservatory
Conservatories can become very chilly in the winter. In fact, it can be incredibly tough to get comfort and enjoyment from your conservatory during the colder months of the year without the use of costly heating appliances.
It is possible to put various solutions in place so that you can enjoy your conservatory throughout the year. Steps that you can take include adding blinds to defend against the cold, adding a thick rug, installing a thermal curtain, keeping the door between your house and the conservatory closed or buying a sealed sliding door.
Investing in roof insulation is another great way to keep the space warm and cosy.
Living room
There are also options available to you if you’re keen to make your lounge or living room more energy-efficient.
We tend to use a great deal of power in our lounges, given that this is the room where most entertainment and socialising tends to take place. Again, power strips and replacing old light bulbs with CFLs and LEDs will benefit you substantially as will replacing old power-hungry TVs, DVD players, vacuum cleaners and other appliances with more energy-efficient alternatives.
Also consider adjusting your thermostat even just a modest amount in order to make significant savings in the long run. Keep an energy meter in your lounge so you can see how much electricity you are using.
Insulation
Investing in insulation is one of the best and most effective ways to improve the energy-efficiency of your home. Without adequate insulation, you could be losing substantial heat via your walls, roof and floor.
Around a quarter of the heat lost in uninsulated homes disappears through the roof and the savings you can make via loft insulation can eclipse the initial outlay within just a couple of years.
Heat is also known for escaping through stone and cavity walls. Stone wall insulation will cost you more but can pay for itself eventually, whilst heightening your comfort levels and raising the value of your property.
Floor insulation can also help you cut your bills, with costs depending on factors like the size of your property. You can increase the efficiency of your insulation measures by utilising draught excluders.
Even taking a few steps to make your home more energy-efficient can result in substantially reduced bills, whilst helping you make a worthwhile, valuable contribution to the environment and reducing your reliance on fossil fuels. Why wait any longer to start making changes?
