Lowering Energy Costs – Greener Homes
In today’s tough economic climate with energy companies putting up their gas and electricity prices and with the government predicting that rising fuel prices will mean that UK households will spend at least 10% of their incomes on fuel, it is unsurprising that more and more home owners are looking at ways to lower their energy costs and make their homes greener.
Lowering energy costs and creating a green home is about making your home more energy-efficient while helping the environment. This doesn’t mean that you compromise on comfort but you look at ways of having sustainable energy by investing in suitable energy saving technologies.
There are a number of benefits which you can experience when investing in a greener home such as the environment benefits of reducing the pressures on climate change, energy availability and social and health benefits which can address such problems as ‘energy poverty’.
So where do you start when considering creating a greener home and looking at ways to lower your traditional energy costs?
Installing insulation and ensuring seals are secure
One of the best ways to save energy is to ensure that you have a well-insulated loft. It is estimated that around 25% of a home’s heat is lost through the roof, so it is essential to ensure that a loft is well insulated to stop this from happening. It is also important to check your homes walls, windows, doors, ceilings and floors to see whether these are letting air into your home. If you have draughts coming into your home it will mean that you will use more energy for heating. Therefore, you should ensure that you review your insulation and sealing throughout your house to aid energy efficiency.
Ensure your heating system is regularly maintained
You should ensure that each year you get your heating system serviced by a qualified company. Having an annual service will mean that your system is checked and assessed to ensure you are getting the most energy efficiency. It can also help ensure that you avoid any expensive charges if your boiler goes wrong, as annual maintenance can mitigate against such events. It is also a useful safety feature to detect any problems that may arise.
Assess your current use of appliances and your energy usage habits
One of the best ways to reduce energy consumption is to look at the different appliances that you use within your home and see how you can save energy. For example:
- Make sure that you use energy saving light bulbs and remember to turn off any lights in your home if you aren’t in that room.
- Programme your washing machine to use cold or luke warm water as this will help lower energy consumption. This will not only help to reduce energy consumption but can also stop clothes shrinking and colours running.
- Consider cooking a few items when the oven is on hot to save time and energy. Also, use the microwave to reheat or cook smaller portions as even though a microwave uses energy it does so for a shorter period of time that an oven.
- Remember, to turn off appliances such as your computer or laptop when you are not using them and don’t let them go into sleep mode. Also, don’t leave your television on standby mode as the appliance can still use up to 90% power in standby mode as it would when it was on.
When buying new appliances such as washing machines and fridges you should also look out for the AAA energy rating that has been given to that appliance. By buying more energy efficient appliances it could cost you less to run than your old appliance.
Consider refitting your house to be completely energy efficient
If you are looking to implement drastic change then why not consider refitting your whole house to be energy efficient if you have the time, money and resources available. This way you can consult a qualified contractor and implement the most cost-effective energy saving techniques available which may include the introduction of solar panels to power your home.
These are just a few ways that can help reduce energy costs and create a greener home. However, it can be seen that investing time and introducing these greener technologies and considerations in your home will mean a cleaner and more energy efficient future to support your subsistence, and any energy economic uncertainty and costs that arise again in the future.
Article by Sarah Wain, 11th October 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.
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