There are many good reasons to make your home more energy efficient. It can save you a considerable amount of money on the monthly running costs of your property. A more energy efficient home is more comfortable to live in, temperatures are more consistent and easier to regulate. Many authorities are offering tax breaks and incentives for those who make the effort to be more environmentally friendly.
There is a common misconception that becoming more energy efficient is very costly. However, there are many steps homeowners can take themselves to start saving money right away. Although some of the bigger jobs will cost more, advances in technology and popularity are making them more accessible than ever to the average homeowner.
Replace your Lighting
LED lighting will offer the biggest savings and the least hassle. While compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs, LEDs will last even longer. CFLs will use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and LEDs will use even less. Electricity used for lighting on average makes up 11% of home energy consumption. A reduction of 50 to 75 percent in this portion of your annual cost would represent a considerable saving for most homes.
Ensure Your Windows and Doors are Up to Scratch
While window replacement is the best option for most homeowners, you can ensure your old ones are as efficient as possible in the meantime by sealing any gaps and replacing any missing putty etc. A little bit of maintenance work will make a difference, but on properties with older windows, good quality replacement windows will make a huge difference. The average home loses a third of all heat through its windows and doors, so efficient windows and doors can represent dramatic savings.
Seal and Insulate Your Home
There can be several places that reduce the energy efficiency of your home you wouldn’t normally consider, but which a few home improvements can vastly upgrade. Where pipes and wires enter your home, wall or window-mounted air conditioning units, baseboards, weather-stripping around doors, a loose mail slot, or an attic hatch. All of these can create drafts that make your heating need to work considerably harder to maintain the temperature, using more electricity and costing you money.
Insulating your walls and loft space can also make a huge difference. However, the type of insulation best for your property could depend on a few variables, so it’s best to get advice from a respectable and proven professional about the best solution for your property.
Be More Aware
As simple as this sounds, using our appliances efficiently can help to reduce our energy bills further. For example, your refrigerator should not be in direct sunlight or near any source of heat. The hotter the immediate environment the harder your refrigerator will have to work to remain cool.
Turn off lights and electrical equipment when it’s not being used. Unplug your chargers while they’re not being used. Don’t use your dishwasher or washing machine while they’re only half full, and always use the eco cycle if they have one.
There are many other bigger changes you can make if you have the money to invest in a more efficient home, such as solar power. However, considerable savings can be made even if you don’t have much to spend.
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