17/01/2023
As the temperatures drop again this week, you might be wondering if your home is as energy efficient as it could be? 🥶
Making upgrades to the energy efficiency of your home could save you hundreds each year on your energy bills and can soon pay for themselves, as well as making your home more warm and comfortable.
We’ve put together a few of our top recommendations for making your home as energy efficient as possible:
1. Lighting - Try and use low-energy bulbs in as many of your fixed light fittings as possible. Using low-energy bulbs could save you up to £15 per bulb over the year.
2. Draught proofing – Use draught excluders on any non-insulated doors and windows to prevent heat loss.
3. Hot Water Cylinder - If your home has a hot water tank, make sure there is plenty of insulation around it. Good insulation keeps your water hotter for longer and reduces the amount of energy you use.
4. Loft insulation - A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. If your loft only has minimal insulation, consider adding more insulation to increase the thickness. The current recommendation is at least 270mm of wool or glass wool loft insulation to keep homes warm and efficient. A well-insulated roof could save you up to £395 per year on your heating bill.
5. Wall Insulation - Insulating your walls could cut your heating costs considerably, and make your home more comfortable. Around a third of heat is lost through poorly insulated walls, so investing in effective wall insulation can quickly pay for itself. The type of wall insulation you’ll need depends on whether your home has cavity or solid walls but there are options available for pretty much any property. An EPC assessment can tell you how efficient your current insulation is and give you recommendations for the best type and level of insulation required for maximum efficiency.
6. Windows - Making your doors, windows, and conservatory more energy efficient can significantly reduce the amount of energy you use. Heat is lost through single glazing around twice as fast as through standard double glazing. If you’re making renovations or upgrades to your home, installing windows with an ‘A+’ energy rating can save you up to £400 per year. Replacing windows can be an expensive investment but you don’t have to replace all of your windows at the same time. Even replacing some of your older or damaged windows with double or triple glazing can save on your energy bills.
7. Boiler information – Modern boilers are much more efficient than older boilers. If your boiler is over 8 years old and you are running your home on fossil fuel (gas, electricity, or oil), you could qualify for government funding to help you move to a low-carbon heating system such as a heat pump. To be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme your property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with no outstanding recommendations for loft or cavity wall insulation.
