Soaring energy bills are a growing concern which is why making your home more energy efficient has never been more important. Reducing energy consumption in UK homes will also help contribute to the UK meeting its pledge to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Whether you live in an older home or a relatively new one, there are several steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon footprint, and potentially save money on your energy bills.
How energy efficient is your home?
The first step towards reducing energy usage is understanding where your home loses the most energy. Before you start making any changes to your property, find out how energy efficient your home is by consulting the rating on your most recent Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You can check you have a valid EPC and find a copy of yours instantly by visiting the government’s EPC register. If your EPC has expired or there isn’t one for your property, you can arrange to have one completed by a qualified professional.
Are there simple ways to make my home more energy efficient?
There are some cheap yet effective measures to help make your home more efficient, keep your home warmer and reduce how much you use your heating. It is a good idea to look at the following to have a more efficient home.
Adjust your thermostat
Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can significantly reduce energy consumption without compromising comfort, saving you money on your electricity bills.
Switch to energy-efficient lighting
Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with LED alternatives. LEDs are significantly more energy-efficient and last up to 10 times longer than normal bulbs.
Draught proof gaps
Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings using caulk or weather silicone. This can prevent warm air from escaping in the winter and cool air in the summer.
Utilise natural light
Opening curtains and blinds during the day is a great way to maximise natural light and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
Take shorter showers
Baths use a lot of energy so opting for shorter showers instead can significantly reduce hot water usage.
Turn off electronics
Don’t leave electronics on standby; switch them off completely when not in use to prevent energy use.
Long-term solutions to make your home more energy efficient.
There are many long-term solutions you can invest in to make your home more energy efficient, help you cut costs in the long run and make it a warmer place to live in winter and a cooler one in the summer. Those home improvements include the following.
Installing energy-efficient windows.
Windows are responsible for around 10-20% of heat loss in your home. Replacing single glazing or old existing double glazing with energy-efficient windows will stop energy wastage and ensure a comfortable temperature inside your home all year round. The type of glazing you choose will impact how much heat is retained or lost in your windows. Double glazing provides excellent thermal performance and is the most cost-effective option while glazing with a special Low-E coating heightens thermal performance further. A windows energy rating, from a scale of A++ to E, will show its energy efficiency. The most energy-efficient windows are those of an A+ rating, which allow more energy into a property than they lose. Windows that have an energy rating will have the ‘U-value’ of the window displayed on the energy label. A U-value is a measure of how easily heat passes through a material and the lower the U-value, such as 1.4 or less, the more energy efficient the window is. According to the Energy Saving Trust, by installing A-rated double glazing to windows in an entirely single-glazed semi-detached gas-heated property, you could save £145 a year on your heating bills and 335kg of carbon dioxide. If you installed A++ rated double glazed windows replacing single glazing, the savings could be up to £175 a year and 410kg of carbon dioxide.
Installing energy-efficient doors.
Alongside windows, external doors are the biggest source of heat loss in a home. If your doors are old and worn, if they have not been properly insulated, or if they have not been properly fitted or sealed, causing air to leak through and draughts, then they are less energy efficient. Installing high performance thermally efficient doors will reduce heat loss, keep your home warmer and cut heating bills as they feature advanced double glazing, edged spacer bars, chambered door frames, airtight profiles and thermal break barriers. They also fit much tighter in the door frame to eliminate draughts and cold spots. Like windows, doors also have an independent energy-efficiency rating from A++ to E. The ratings consider the door itself, not how it’s been fitted. This means that starting with an A++ rated door will put you in the best position to gain maximum energy efficiency.
Fit insulation into your home.
Good insulation will help retain the heat in your home and reduce the need for using your radiators. It also makes it easier to keep your home cool in the summer months. There are several insulation options:
Loft insulation
Around a quarter of heat is lost through the roof of a house which isn’t insulated. Properly insulating your loft, attic or flat roof with rolls of mineral wool insulation is one of the most effective ways to retain heat in the winter and keep your home cooler in the summer.
Cavity wall insulation
Around a third of a home’s heat is lost through the walls, according to Energy Saving Trust. If your home has cavity walls, insulating them can significantly improve energy efficiency.
Solid wall insulation
If you can’t install cavity wall insulation because your home has solid walls, then solid wall insulation could be an option for your outside walls.
Floor insulation
The temperature in a room may also be affected by cold flooring or cold floorboards, so floor insulation will help prevent cold draughts. It also only needs to be applied to the ground floor.
Upgrade your boiler.
Replacing an old, inefficient boiler with a modern, energy-efficient model can drastically reduce your heating costs and cut your carbon emissions. Your new, energy efficient boiler will also be kinder to the environment by reducing your home’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Use renewable sources.
If you want to cut your energy bills and carbon footprint then you could also make the most of naturally occurring energy and generate your own energy from renewable sources and low carbon heating, such as the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps. Once installed, solar panels convert sunlight into electricity for your home to use. The initial cost to install them may be high but it will save you money in the long run. Air source heat pumps, which are installed outside, extract heat from the air to heat your home and hot water.
SEHBAC: Your partner in energy-efficient windows and doors
At SEH BAC, we’re committed to helping homeowners create comfortable and energy efficient living spaces. We offer a comprehensive range of windows and doors to help you improve your home’s energy performance. Our glazing options include advanced EcoMAX Glass™ double glazing, which matches any A-rated unit and comes as standard on all uPVC and aluminium products, and Comfort Glass, which has been designed to outperform triple glazing thanks to the inclusion of a tough laminated layer and an effective Low-E coating. As a Fensa registered company, our replacement doors can boast door set energy ratings of A+, while our double glazing can attain A+ energy ratings and achieve U-values of 1.2 w/m2K. Contact our experienced team today to discuss the most suitable energy-efficient windows and doors for your home and budget and help improve your home’s energy efficiency.
