Ways to Be Energy Efficient and Save Money

Insulation:

Did you know that a quarter of heat is lost through your roof? Loft insulation is one of the simplest ways to prevent heat escaping from your home. This is something you could even do yourself if your loft is easy to get at, and has no damp or condensation. Put your mineral wool insulation firstly between joists, then another layer laid at right angles to cover the joists. If you want to use your loft for storage you will need to cover the joists with boards. Pipes and water tanks will be more likely to freeze, so you will need to insulate those too.

Cavity wall insulation is also very effective and will save you money on your heating bills. If your house was built within the last 10 years it is more than likely that the walls will be insulated already. For this job you will need a professional installer. The installer will drill small holes around the outside of your home and insulation will be blown in. This is not just a one-off saving either; it will save you money on your energy bills year after year.

Heating:

Switching from oil to gas could cut out your home’s central heating bill in half. Additionally, over the last 12 months home heating oil has become over 25% more expensive than natural gas. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel too, so there is no mess with cleaning fires or a dirty old oil tank. It is efficient; a brand new ‘A’ rated natural gas boiler is over 90% efficient compared to around only 60% for an older boiler over 15 years old. You will get instant heat and constant hot water supply, with no more waiting on an immersion heater! To get natural gas installed in your home you will need to get a Gas Safe installer. There are also UK government grants for different circumstances, so you should check what help you may be entitled to.

Electricity:

You might not realise it but some of your electrical devices are costing you money even when you are not using them. Lots of our modern devices have a standby option: TVs, DVD players, chargers, microwaves and even cookers drain the energy when left plugged in or on standby. With the room in darkness, when you go to bed at night why not check for standby lights? When buying new appliance always look for the EU energy efficiency label. These range from A+++ to G, with A+++ being the best.