How to cut your energy bills as the mercury drops
As the cost of heating soars, make sure you are not wasting energy as you keep your home nice and toasty this winter
Most households are trying to keep heating costs as low as possible as energy bills reach an unprecedented high.
One great way to do it? Preventing heat from seeping out of your home. Experts say 35% of the heat in an uninsulated property escapes through the walls, 25% through the roof and 10% through the floors. But if you insulate your home, you’ll use less energy for heating and that can save you around £500 a year.
Here are simple but helpful tips from the experts:
1. Look for draughts
Go around your home and check for gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Sealing those gaps usually found around windows, doors and floors is one of the most costeffective ways to save energy and money at home. If you hire professionals who do draught proofing, they will know what materials will work best.
2. Install energy efficient windows
Windows that have double or triple glazing will help reduce the amount of heat loss in your home. These windows are made of two or three glass panes sealed in a single unit surrounded by a frame made from UPVC, wood or another material. If you replace your single glazed windows with A++ rated double glazed ones, you could save up to £235 a year and 405 kg of carbon dioxide!
You can also improve your home’s energy efficiency by using heavy curtains.
3. Feel for damp
Use your hands to feel your external walls. If they are cold and/or damp and you see any visible sign of mould, you likely have poor insulation and lack of ventilation. Most homes in the UK have a cavity wall that can be filled with insulation, saving you around £395 a year.
4. Be smart in choosing your heaters
Room heaters consume a lot of electricity or gas; they’re likely to cost a lot more than a central heating system if used over a long period of time. Choose heaters that can control the temperature and the time you have them on as these will help you save money and energy.
5. Check your property’s Energy Performance Certificate
All buildings in the UK should have an Energy Performance Certificate, outlining the structure’s energy efficiency.
This document shows
homeowners how well a certain property retains heat on a scale of A to G. It highlights possible energy costs and some even suggest
types of insulation for that specific property.