With the onset of winter, it’s more important than ever you take steps to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Of course, this is something you should be doing all year round, but as the temperatures plummet and the nights get longer over the next few weeks, having a green home becomes especially important.
As obvious as it sounds, the winter means we turn the central heating up and use our lights more often, but that isn’t to say doing so means you have to put up with ridiculously high utility bills come January. In fact, there are many things that can been done in order to minimise your home’s energy usage while ensuring you stay comfortable. To find out more about some of the most effective steps you can take in achieving this, read on.
Swap your bath for a shower
Although having a bath is certainly a great way to unwind after a stressful day, doing does consume a significant amount of water and energy. If you’re keen to keep a firm grip over your energy costs this winter, you may want to replace your tub with a shower enclosure.
Having a shower, as opposed to a bath, means you can wash yourself much more quickly and, in the process, consume far less energy. In making this change you can expect to save hundreds of pounds in gas and water bills each year, so the money you’ve invested into purchasing a new shower should soon pay for itself.
To make your showering unit is as energy efficient as possible, you should look to get one that comes with an optimised-flow (also known as aerated) showerhead. Although these use less water than the traditional showerhead, they do not compromise your overall shower experience.
Replace your boiler
Although you might think it goes without saying, the boiler plays a substantial role in your home’s energy usage – according to the Energy Saving Trust, it accounts for roughly two-thirds of a home’s annual utility spend – so it’s worth making certain yours is as energy efficient as possible.
However, if your home’s boiler has been in place for several years, there’s a good chance that it is not performing as well as it could be and is actually resulting in you unnecessarily wasting energy (and money).
Indeed, by replacing an old appliance with a brand new model you’ll discover you can keep nice and toasty over the winter in a much more energy efficient manner, potentially saving you some £300 each year in the process.
Install loft insulation
Another great way to make your home as eco-friendly as possible before the winter really sets in is to install loft insulation.
During the colder months of the year we, of course, tend to have our central heating turned on for longer periods of time. However, if you don’t insulate your home properly, a significant amount of the heat your radiators and boiler generate will be lost, which results in wasted energy and money.
Have a layer of wool insulation fitted in your attic or loft and you’ll be able to make your property significantly more eco-friendly and in as little as two yours the savings you have made on your energy bills will have paid for the costs involved in its installation. You can fit loft insulation yourself, although you might find it easier to hire a professional tradesman to do this job to be sure that the material works as effectively as possible in reducing energy waste.
