Increasing the heating efficiency of a property
As energy bills increase for households across the nation, many of us are looking to make our homes more energy efficient without spending the earth. If you’re fed up with piling on jumpers or wearing a blanket indoors, here are some ways you can make your home more energy efficient.
Why should you increase the energy efficiency of your home?
There are many reasons why you should make your home more energy efficient. Firstly, it’s good for the environment. By increasing the heating efficiency of your property, you’ll be able to use less heat to warm up your home, reducing your carbon emissions.
Reducing heat loss is also good for your bank balance – as you’ll be using less heat to keep your home toasty, you can drive down your energy bills – which is especially important as 13 million adults in the UK are now struggling to keep up.
How can I increase the heating efficiency of my home?
- Insulation
Firstly, there’s insulation. Most common insulation materials work by slowing the flow of heat, effectively ‘trapping’ air. This reduced the heat lost through your internal and external walls.
- Draught proofing
Older properties can be draughty. With air seeping in through the brickwork, floorboards or even doors and windows, your home can feel ice-cold – which means you’ll spend more trying to keep warm.
One way you can reduce the draftiness of your home is by purchasing different draft excluders. Long bolster cushions can be strategically placed near the worst doors and windows to reduce heat loss. If you’ve noticed some gaps in your window and door frames, you can use filler or putty to stop heat from escaping permanently.
- Upgrade your heating systems
While it’s not a cheap job to begin with, upgrading your heating system can save you money in the long run. Most modern heating systems are much more efficient compared to previous models and therefore can make a big difference to your energy consumption.
- Consider smart heating
As well as being very handy if you forget to turn your heating off when you head to work in a hurry, smart heating systems can save you money, too. By programming your heating based on your schedule, you won’t be wasting energy having the heating on while you’re at work or asleep. This is great for the environment and your bank balance.
Final thoughts…
If you’re concerned about rising energy bills or your carbon footprint, the good news is that you can take steps to reduce your energy consumption. By excluding drafts and filling holes to more substantial jobs like upgrading your heating systems, you can keep toasty warm during the winter months.