How to make your home more energy efficient

Wednesday, 6 June 2012 11:41 AM

Taking action to improve your home’s energy efficiency will save you money and lead to a better lifestyle.
With some simple changes your home will require less heating, cooling and have a better climate for day-to-day life.
To mark World Environment Day company Think Insulation and HouseFixer.co.uk has put together a helpful rundown of how best to make your home more energy efficient.

1. Draught-proof your home: Draught-proofing blocks up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. It is one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to save energy and money in the home. Full draught-proofing will save you on average £55 per year, depending on your home. Draught-free homes are also comfortable at lower temperatures – so you’ll be able to turn down your thermostat. We have a step-by-step guide to draught proofing for extra help.

2. Insulate your hot water tank: This is one of the easiest ways to save energy and money. It’s an easy DIY job that will cost around £15 if you do it yourself and will save around £40 per year on your fuel bills. Just wrapping your system in insulation will decrease the amount of escaping heat and help it to heat up quicker.

3. Install a room thermostat: Whatever the age of your boiler, the right controls will let you set your heating and hot water to come on and off when you need them. Heat just the areas of your home you want, and decide how warm you want each area to be. If you don’t already have one, install a room thermostat to keep track of the climate inside the home.

4. Insulate your loft: About 25 per cent of heat in an un-insulated house escapes through the roof. Loft insulation is low cost and easy to install and the job can be completed by yourself in one day. Opt for loft insulation with strong eco-credentials and great thermal performance. Space Insulation is a range of energy saving loft insulation products recommended by Think Insulation. All of the glass mineral wool insulation products in the range have environmental qualities as they are made using recycled glass bottles and rapidly renewable materials instead of petro-based chemicals.

5. Upgrade your shower head: If a family of four replace their inefficient shower head with a water-efficient one they could save about £72 off their gas bills and around £72 off their water bills each year. It is worth installing a new shower head and limiting time in the bathroom.

How to make a house a home

Decorating doesn't have to be a chore - indeed, it can be a fun way to spend a weekend. Best of all, you will be able to give your property a whole new lease of life and maybe even increase its value in the longterm. There are plenty of quick and easy ways to spruce up your house and make it a home.