Energy Saving Tips: How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
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It’s the start of a new year and everyone has resolutions they hope to keep. Here at The Property Buying Company, we are always thinking of simple ways to improve how we live, including how we look after our homes. If being more energy efficient is on your list of resolutions this January then take a look at our simple guide of how to do that. Sometimes small changes can make a massive difference.
And in the age of the cost of living crisis, taking steps to improve your energy efficiency and to save money on electric bill can only be a good thing. In this blog post, we will explore the different ways to save electricity, the benefits that come with reducing your energy bills, and how we can help you sell your home.
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What are energy efficient home improvements?
Energy efficiency is the practice of using less energy in your home. You can do this by being conscious of using less energy, as well as making the most out of the energy you use and avoiding waste where possible. In doing so, you can help lower your bills, and keep your home warm for less.
Energy efficient home improvements are building work or improvements that you can undertake in order to keep your property
You may have an energy saving home if you have some of the following improvements:
Loft insulation
Floor insulation
Internal wall insulation
External wall insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Double glazing
Heat pumps
Draught insulation
Upgrading your boiler
How do I know if my home is energy saving?
You may be wondering exactly how energy efficient your property is at the moment. One such way you can check is by looking at your Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC for short. An EPC is a document that is required when selling your property that rates the energy efficiency of your property on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least.
As it currently stands, the average EPC score for a property in England and Wales is D, however, new build properties often have a higher score.
EPCs are valid for 10 years, so if you have purchased your property within the last 10 years, you should be in possession of one. If you have lost, misplaced, or do not own a valid EPC, then you can apply online to have a new one commissioned.
Benefits of energy efficiency
If you are looking into energy efficient home improvements to start the new year off right, you've come to the right place. There are plenty of benefits that come with looking to save money on your energy bill, besides the obvious. Below, we take a closer look at some of the benefits you can expect when making your home more energy efficient:
Save money
One of the biggest advantages to energy proofing your home is that the changes you make can help reduce your overall spending within your home when it comes to energy and electric bills. Solar panels, for example, can provide you with free electricity when the sun is out which you can then use in place of electricity from your energy provider.
Less energy used
Due to the nature of energy efficient improvements, you will find that you are using less energy in your home, and that your electric and energy bill shrink as a result.
Noise reduction
An advantage to energy proofing your home that you may not expect is that you can reduce the amount of noise in your home. This is because whilst these improvements are designed with the goal of preventing 'hot air leaks', they also improve the insulation in your home, thus reducing the noise that travels through your home from either other rooms or outside.
Even temperature
When you reduce energy usage, you can also achieve a comfortable temperature in your home. This is because the majority of improvements to save energy are designed with the aim of keeping a home warm and dry in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Option to store energy
If you have decided to install solar panels in a bid to save energy at home, then you may be able to sell back or save any energy that you do not use.
Better air quality
Another advantage to the different ways to conserve energy at home is that you will find that it improves the air quality in your home. Gas cookers and boilers can produce harmful air pollution in the home as a byproduct of their use. By swapping these out for more energy friendly alternatives, you are able to improve the air around you and your health.
Smaller carbon footprint
For the day-to-day homeowner, the way in which you have the most effect on the climate is through powering and heating your home. By making these changes to help reduce your energy consumption, you are also able to reduce your carbon footprint.
Why saving money on your electric bill can be important
Saving money on your electricity bill is important for a wide variety of reasons, however, the most important one is that it means extra money in your budget. Having extra money to spend is always a bonus, and can be used for anything you may need. By being able to reduce your spending on gas and electricity you can free up extra money for your savings, rainy day funds, travel, insurance, groceries, and more. If you are able to reduce the spending on your bills, you should take the chance and make the change.
What are the 5 ways to save electricity?
There are many different ways that you can help to save electricity, from ensuring that all lights are off when you are not using them, to fitting a smart meter in your home. Change doesn't need to cost the world, and if you haven't got the budget to install solar panels or double glazing, then there are still steps you can take to save you money.
Below are some of our top home energy saving tips that can help you save electricity in your home:
1. Get a Smart Meter Installed
One of the best ways that you can conserve energy at home is by installing a smart meter in your home. A lot of energy suppliers are currently encouraging their customers to do so as they are a great way to keep an eye on energy consumption in real time and make you aware of which appliances in your home can cost you the most.
As a result, they will allow you to budget a lot more efficiently. If you are aware that boiling the kettle is something you do regularly and costs you the most, you could be more conscious when you use it. You may only boil it a few times a day and keep the spare water in a thermostat to keep it boiling for longer without needing to use the kettle as much. This will then reduce the electricity and power you use and start saving you money almost instantly.
Some smart meters even come with a thermostat feature installed which will allow you to manage your heating from a smartphone or tablet, helping you to avoid messing around with timers or wasting energy.
2. Use a Lower Temperature When Washing Clothes
A lot of modern washing machines have ‘eco’ settings, but, if they don’t, then try turning the temperature down to achieve a more energy efficient wash. Using a shorter cycle and a higher spin will also cut down on drying time and may mean you get to avoid using your tumble dryer altogether. There are a lot of washing detergents out there now that work just as well at lower temperatures so your washing quality won’t be compromised.
By turning the temperature down from 40°C to 30°C will also mean that you can get three cycles for the price of two all whilst using the same amount of energy, although this will depend on the make and model of your washing machine.
3. Install an Energy Efficient Boiler
Our boilers are one of the most important things in our home and shouldn’t be ignored. As soon as anything happens to them you realise just how much this is true. Although installing a new, energy-efficient boiler may seem an expensive purchase, you will find that you reap the rewards in due course when your bills become lower as a consequence. Around half of what you spend on energy every year is directly down to your boiler so having one that can lower the cost of your bills is a real game changer.
4. Update Lightbulbs
Another ways to conserve energy at home is to swap out your current lightbulbs for LED, halogen or compact fluorescent lamps. These are a much for energy efficient alternative for the traditional incandescent lightbulbs (which have been phased out since 2014). The average home may as have as many as 40 bulbs, so swapping out for energy efficient counterparts is a great way to cut costs.
Furthermore, these lightbulbs will not only save you money on your electricity bills, but they will also not affect the amount of light they produce. This means you can choose replacements for your current lights that emit the same amount of light, in the same colour, at a much lower cost.
5. Use less hot water
One of the best ways to save electricity is by using less hot water in your home. Whilst you may be energy conscious and only turn on your heating in the winter, you will need to use energy throughout the year in order to heat your water.
If you have a hot water tank, then you will be able to use heating controls in order to turn your water heating on and off as desired, ensuring you only heat as much water as you will need for the day.
Another way that you can avoid using too much water is to swap out your current showerhead for an eco-shower head. The average high-pressure shower head can use more water in less than 5 minutes than running a bath.
Another avenue you may wish to explore is cutting your showers down to 4 minutes or less. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this alone can save the average household £95 a year.
Extra ways to save energy
There are some even simpler ways to become more energy efficient at home:
- Don’t leave your TV on standby
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- Switch off lights when you leave a room
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- Don’t leave plugs switched on unnecessarily
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- Allow your fridge plenty of ventilation and don’t pack it too full
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- Don’t boil a full kettle each time if you don’t need all of the water
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- Always check the energy efficiency of new appliances that you buy
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How much can you save?
Exactly which of our energy saving tips for your home you follow is up to you, but even small changes can have a huge difference. Below is a table that outlines the money you can save by implementing some of the changes mentioned in this article. These figures apply for the average 3 bedroom semi-detached property in England, Scotland, or Wales.
| Action | Savings |
|---|---|
| Switch off standby | £55 |
| Draught-proof gaps | £95 |
| Turn off the lights | £25 |
| Wash at 30 degrees and reduce use by one run a week | £29 |
| Avoid using the tumble dryer | £60 |
| Take a 4-minue shower | £70 |
| Swap one bath a week for a 4 minute shower | £11 |
| Don't overfill the kettle and fit a tap aerator | £36 |
| Reduce your dishwasher use by one run a week | £14 |
| Insulate your hot water cylinder | £50 |
According to data from the Energy Saving Trust
Sell to us!
If the cost of running your home is becoming too costly, or you are looking to sell your property in favour of a more energy efficient home, then look no further. Here at The Property Buying Company, we are a genuine cash buyer who prides ourselves on our ability to purchase any property, regardless of condition or location.
We believe that selling a property shouldn't be complicated, that's why we offer a streamlined service that can see us purchase your home for cash, fast, and for free.
When you sell with The Property Buying Company, you are in good hands. We have over 1,000 reviews on our TrustPilot, rating us as excellent. We are also proud members of both The National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman.
Ready to get selling? Simply fill in one of our free, no-obligation forms below to get the ball rolling, and we could have our CASH offer in your bank in as little as 7 days!
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