Equally the cost of the current living crisis is making homeowners and renters reconsider how much energy they are using and forcing them to look at ways to make energy reductions and savings from living in more energy-efficient homes.
New build homes are usually more energy efficient than second-hand stock because of the leaps and bounds of technology and materials in the last ten years such as using new appliances, better insulation, underfloor heating and modern building materials. Sustainability standards are also a bigger priority. In fact, Savills UK research revealed that there is an average 55% saving (equivalent to £856) on annual ‘core’ energy costs (lighting, heating and hot water) when purchasing a new build over second-hand. The saving on apartments are usually smaller but still around 37%.
A number of mortgage lenders are offering ‘green mortgages’ for energy-efficient homeowners which give better interest rates and sometimes cash back. There is also much talk about the potential of a ‘green premium’ whereby homebuyers are willing to pay more for a property which uses renewable energy.
So how can we make our home more energy efficient? Some energy-efficiency tips require investment and a long-term outlook whilst others may require you to simply turn off the switch at the wall more often:-
Sustainability - A more energy-efficient home not only means cheaper bills but also creates a reduction in your carbon footprint. Sustainable technology can often be more affordable or lower energy bills, such as using eco settings on white goods. There is a difficult balance between swapping out old machines for better eco-sustainable technology in terms of how to recycle the former with a good environmental conscious.
Draught-proof windows and doors - Make sure that there aren’t any unwanted draughts coming through your windows, doors or open chimneys. There are many cheap fixes that are highly reliable, including a chimney sheep, which is an environmentally friendly draught chimney excluder, a magnetic letter-box flap that ensures your letter box is not letting in cold air, draught-proof strips which help to close any unintentional gaps around your window frames and door draft excluders for outside facing doors.
Insulation - Since nearly a quarter of heat escapes through an uninsulated roof, check the insulation in your roof, walls, loft or attic. Once you have that covered, place rugs on stone or wooden floors and insulate the hot water cylinder as well as any pipework. Bear in mind you also need to check that there is still adequate ventilation.
Double-glazing - By double-glazing your windows, you could cut heat loss through windows by half. Single-sash windows are a bad culprit for heat loss. Secondary glazing can be an option where a glass layer sits in front of a single-glazed window.
Solar panels. A top tip if you are considering solar panels is that they don’t necessarily have to be in direct sunlight. Some potential buyers get put off because they think their house is facing the wrong direction. Some businesses also offer you a monthly payment plan rather than one large payment of usually £5,000 to £10,000 for an average house. Solar panels could reduce your annual bills by around £500 and also add value to your house.
Air source and ground source pumps. Many homeowners want to install a heat pump but are hindered by the installation costs or space requirements. It is easier for new builds to have these planned in.
Smart meters - This handy gadget helps to track your energy use in real-time which is a good way to understand what changes you can make to save energy. Many providers install them for free.
LED bulbs - LED uses about half the energy of other fluorescent spiral 'energy-saving bulbs'.
From an environmental point of view, it is clear that our behaviour does need to change and from a financial viewpoint for many of us tightening the purse strings has never been more important. Whilst some politicians have been ridiculed for their suggestions that buying a new kettle will sort the cost of living crisis for millions of people this winter, it is true that little changes do all add up.
Here are some small adjustments that could make a difference:-
· Close your curtains in all the rooms in the house at night.
· Turn off electrical appliances at the switch, rather than leaving them on standby.
· Do away with that ‘just in case’ freezer and fridge.
· Reduce tumble dryer use and use a short spin, low temperature on the washing machine.
· Use draft excluders on outside facing doors.
· Use 'eco' mode on appliances where possible.
· Make changes to your boiler such as turning down the hot water temperature on your combi boiler.
· Bleed your radiators so there are no cold spots.
· Underfloor heating is often more energy-efficient than other heating methods.
· Put reflective foil behind radiators.
· Switch the shower off when shampooing and conditioning.
· Turn the thermostat down and use a timer.
· Use cosy throws on sofas, chairs and beds rather than turning the heating up further on cold days.
· Invest in a water-saving shower head or an eco-kettle to save some energy.
