There are plenty of compelling reasons why you might want to make your home more energy efficient.
With electricity and gas prices rising and the cost of living getting higher all the time, it can be very helpful to lower your energy bills.
It’s also a kindness to the environment if you can use less energy. In this guide, we’ll go over some great tips and hints to help improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Pick The Right Lights
Gone are the days of only having incandescent lightbulbs to keep your home bright and cheery. Nowadays, there are plenty of options for low-energy lighting.
While it might cost a little more to change your lightbulbs, you’ll get that money back by using less electricity in the long run.
It’s also worth looking at what kind of lighting you have. Having one big central light isn’t always the most efficient or attractive use of power.
Instead, use a couple of lamps to create an even spread of warm, low-energy light in your home, or pick out LED art lighting to highlight certain areas of the room and your favorite decorative features.
Turn Things Off When You Aren’t Using Them
Of course, lightbulbs and other electrical appliances use the least energy when they’re off. Try to turn off appliances whenever you’re not using them.
This includes turning off lights when you leave a room, and switching off tech devices rather than leaving them on standby.
Insulate
Effective insulation can make a massive difference in reducing the energy used for heating while still keeping your home nice and warm. This doesn’t have to be a daunting task either.
While you might be wary of installing attic insulation or double glazing, there are plenty of DIY insulation ideas that can help you keep your home toasty. Some of the simplest, such as a door snake and heavy curtains are quick to add.
Layer Up The Blankets And Sweaters
We all like having a cozy home, but turning the heating up high can be pricey. Instead, focus on wearing more layers.
This could mean wearing thicker clothes during winter and hunkering down under blankets to keep yourself extra warm.
You could go for a high-tech heated blanket, which is much cheaper to run than heating, or you could opt for the personal touch and make your own blankets.
Pick The Right Time To Run Appliances
Depending on your energy plan, it might be cheaper for you to run your dishwasher or washing machine at night.
You should always check your energy supplier’s pricing plans, so you can make the most of any lower energy tariffs.
Lower Your Laundry Temperature
If you don’t put a lot of thought into how you wash your clothes, you should. With modern detergent, a lower washing temperature can be just as effective for your regular day-to-day laundry, though for heavy stains you might need to soak them first.
It’s also better for energy efficiency if you always do full washes, so pile up your laundry until you’ve got enough to fill the machine.
Don’t Heat Empty Rooms
It stands to reason that you only need to heat the rooms you’re actually going to use, but most of us don’t practice this.
To keep your heating costs down, turn off the heating in rooms you aren’t using, and shut the door. This will help avoid energy waste.
Just remember to start heating them again 20 minutes before you want to use the room so it’s not too chilly.
Air-dry Your Clothes
A tumble dryer is a great appliance for convenience, but it’s not energy efficient. You can cut down on energy bills by only using the tumble dryer when necessary.
Instead, hang your clothes out on a rack or washing line. Make the most of any sunny weather and hang clothes outside. Plus this will help you avoid wrinkles.
Swap Your Bath For A Shower
It can be very enjoyable to relax in a hot bath, but it involves heating a lot of water.
A quick shower can use less than a third of the amount of water and heating, which can make a huge impact on your hot water bill.
You can also try to have shorter and cooler showers to help lower these costs even further.
Home Energy Efficiency: Conclusion
Whether you want to cut down on your energy bills or help save the planet, there are plenty of ways that you can help improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Some methods such as attic insulation might be more of an investment, but there are lots of small changes that you can make to your everyday routine, such as turning off tech and not heating rooms you aren’t using.
With a little thought, you can reduce your energy usage whatever type of home you have.
