With budgets being squeezed, energy bills can prove costly and can really add up, especially at this time of year. According of Ofgem, the average yearly energy bill was £1,138 per household in 2018. Due to this, we’ve put together some helpful energy saving tips and DIY projects you can undertake to cut down the size of your utility bills.
Replace your boiler
Central heating accounts for 55% of what you spend on your energy bills each year according to the Energy Saving Trust. With this in mind, old traditional boilers aren’t very efficient or great at heat retention. Replacing your old boiler for a new energy saving one can help with this. A modern boiler has a larger heat exchanger, meaning it recovers heat easier and burns fuel more efficiently. Installation can be costly, but the cost that you spend on replacing your boiler will be recouped in energy bill savings over time. With a boiler being such an integral part of your home, ensuring you have an efficient boiler will reap rewards in the long term.
Check your insulation
The majority of heat that your home produces will escape due to poor insulation from the roof, loft and floorboards. Using cellulose and fibreglass wool, which is often made from recycled material, as the main source of insulation can help. You can install the wool using the 18V ONE+ system. All the tools in the system use one battery, allowing you to use multiple screwdrivers, saws and staplers with one source of power. Whilst the loft is the obvious place to start, assessing other areas can also yield good results, such as wrapping your boiler and insulating underneath your kitchen. Insulation can seem like a daunting task, and one that may require external help, but in the long run having a fully insulated house will save you money on your energy bills.
Draught proofing
Draught proofing your house is a one of easiest and cheapest ways to be energy efficient in your home - especially you live in an older property. By making slight changes to prevent cold air from entering your home, this will help your home to retain heat and stop you from wanting to turn the thermostat up. Usually, you’ll only need your trusty, everyday drills, screwdrivers and nailers to complete draught proofing jobs. Key areas to consider draught proofing are skirting boards, internal/external doors and even the letter box.
Install a smart thermostat
The introduction of smart thermostats has immediately made homes more energy efficient. Easy to acquire and reasonably priced, the thermostats work by only heating the selected rooms that you want to heat, while being able to be operated from your smartphone, allowing you to come home to a warm house. The technology used in a smart thermostat also adapts and learns. For example, many apps will measure how long it takes for specific rooms to be heated up, which can in turn make your energy consumption more efficient. Like similar energy saving incentives mentioned in this article, the upfront cost may seem daunting, however, over time this will be recuperated from the savings being made.
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