Make your home energy-efficient and save money
In this day and age, most of us feel some kind of responsibility towards the environment, and part of that involves doing what we can to save energy.
Using less energy is a good thing, but it`s not just about saving the planet - it`s also a great opportunity for you to save money. Here are five things you might not have thought of when it comes to making your home more energy-efficient.
5 ways to make your home more energy-efficient
Make sure taps are turned fully off
It may sound like a simple thing, but that dripping tap could be wasting a lot more water and money than you think. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a dripping hot water tap can waste enough water in a week to fill a bath (over 5,000 litres of water per year).
Turn off appliances at the wall
You might assume that once you`ve switched off your TV, stereo or washing machine, you`re not using any electricity.
However, unless you switch everything off at the wall, those appliances will still be costing you. A wall socket switched on will draw a small amount of energy regardless of what`s plugged into it, so to be as energy-efficient as possible you really need to switch everything off at the wall.
Set your heating on a timer
In the cold winter months, it`s very easy to turn on the heating, relax in the warmth and forget you ever switched it on. However, this is often unnecessary and can be a big waste of energy.
Most modern houses will hold onto heat for at least a few hours (especially if they are well-insulated - see the next section). If your boiler has a timer, start out by switching the heating on, then switch it off when you feel warm enough. You can then see how long it takes before you feel the need to switch it back on again, making a record of both times. Then set your timer to turn on and off at these intervals when you`re in the house. You may need to adjust this depending on the temperature outside, of course.
Don`t forget to make sure the heating is switched off when you`re out of the house or asleep, as it`s almost certain to be unnecessary at these times.
Have your home insulated
A lot of homes, especially older ones, lose heat more quickly than others because they are not insulated well enough. Insulation can cost money, but it is usually cost-effective in the long run, and you may be eligible for a government grant to help you with the cost (see http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Announcements/Insulation-grants-for-all-householders). The Energy Saving Trust says that the average household can expect to save £270 a year by insulating their roof and walls.
It`s not just about wall and roof insulation, though. A few simple measures, like bringing in draught excluders, thicker curtains and laying carpets where necessary, can also help you to keep more heat in.
Check for holes!
If you have an older house, you may be surprised at how many gaps and holes exist in your home - and all of these could be leaking heat. In particular, spots where energy meters and washing machines have been installed after the house was built can often lead directly into the cavity wall without being sealed properly.
There are a number of ways you can address this - such as expanding foam filler, which can be picked up cheaply from DIY stores. These small measures will make a big difference to how easily your home stays warm.
Tags: money, environment, save money, save energy, insulation