Saving Money & Energy with Home Efficiency Ideas

Guest Blogger #785, Entry #1853, November 22, 2012

Utility companies raising their prices has become something of a late-October tradition, taking its place alongside the clocks going back, Halloween and shopping centres playing Christmas songs on the list of things we can count on as the cold, dark evenings draw in. The latest round of hikes has seen five of the ‘Big Six’ suppliers increase their prices by between seven and 11 per cent. For those already struggling to pay record prices to heat their home, it’s not great news.

Image via: lda-architects.com

Now more than ever then, it is important to think about improving the energy efficiency of your home – the heat that escapes through your roof, walls and windows is expensive.

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There are many ways to do this, from quick fixes to bigger home improvements, but all will help you reduce the amount of energy you have to use to keep your property cosy and warm.

Here are some of the most effective options:

Insulation

Roof insulation is a must – in a typical home it is estimated that up to a quarter of the heat generated escapes through the roof. What’s more, loft insulation is easy to install and is relatively cheap.

As for the walls, a further quarter of your heat can escape through these. Cavity wall insulation will require the services of a professional, but it’s a one-off job and will improve the value of your home.

Windows

Heat escapes through draughty window frames and through the single-glaze panes themselves. Switching to double-glazing can help you retain a lot more heat – as well as offering more security to your property. There are many different styles of window available to fit in with the aesthetic of your home, but don’t be tempted to do it on the cheap – use only expert fitters who guarantee certain quality standards, for example Safestyle UK.

Image via: williamhefner.com

Quick fixes

Draught excluders should be applied to all doors which allow cool air to circulate – external and internal. On that note, it is important to get into the habit of closing internal doors, so that rooms you are trying to warm up (the living room for example) do not find their heat dispersing into hallways.

Saving energy is also about managing your electricity consumption too, so another good habit to get into is turning lights off when you’re not in the room, and switching electrical items off completely rather than leaving them on standby.

Once you’ve made these changes they should last you a lifetime, and the money you save on your fuel bills will soon pay for the cost of any improvements. What’s more, using less gas and electricity is one in the eye for the utility companies!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.