Energy efficiency is a big concern for many of us. Bills are rising all over the world, and most people are at least a little concerned about their energy bills this winter. Improving the efficiency of your home can help you to save money while keeping your home warm and comfortable. Reducing energy waste is also great for the planet and can help to reduce dampness and humidity in your house, which can boost your health over the colder months. Here are some of the best ways that you can improve the efficiency of your home in time for winter.
Have Your Boiler Serviced
A boiler service doesn’t just make sure your boiler is working, it also looks for problems, makes sure it’s set up efficiently, and that it’s working as well as it can be. Getting your boiler serviced once a year can save you money on repairs and heating, and make sure you are able to heat your home effectively.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Modern smart thermostats like an Emerson Sensi thermostat can give you much more control of your heating, as well as more accurate ways to track your usage. You can control a smart thermostat from your phone and use movement sensors to make sure your heating goes off when no one is home, which can reduce waste and lower your bills. Being able to warm your home before you reach it can also mean that you are more comfortable without having to turn the thermostat up as high, so saving you money, and helping your home to avoid getting too cold, which increases the risk of frozen pipes and makes it hard to retain heat.
Find Ways to Trap Heat in
Most of us are guilty of letting the heat that we’ve built up in our homes escape, which means that we need the heating on for longer, which costs more money. Reducing heating waste is one of the best ways to run your home more efficiently. Big changes like adding wall isolation are great, but smaller additions to your home, such as thicker curtains, draft excluders, and energy-efficient doors can also be effective.
Check Windows and Doors
A lot of heat is lost through our windows and doors. If yours are old or damaged, replacing them can make a big difference. But even newer windows and doors can let drafts in, and warm air out if the seals aren’t effective. These can be easily replaced if you notice any drafts.
Get into and Encourage Good Habits
One of the easiest ways to improve the efficiency of your home is to be mindful of your behaviors. Things like turning lights off when you leave a room, turning your thermostat down, closing internal doors, closing curtains when the sun goes down, and keeping windows are doors closed can make a big difference to how comfortable your home is, and how high your energy bills are.
When it comes to creating an efficient home, while some methods will cost more than others, there’s nearly always something that you can do, no matter your budget, to reduce your bills while creating a home that retains more heat and wastes less.
