Energy efficiency in the home – how much can you save?
The continuing credit crunch is affecting homeowners in great numbers, and with no sign of improvement imminent it could be worth looking at just how efficient your home is.
We all think we have done enough to improve our homes, but how many of us have? And when it comes to the crunch, just how much can be saved and how?
Simplicity plays a part in cost effectiveness, and it is in these thrift inducing times that we look to saving money. There are many areas of the home that can be improved, with simple measures in terms of insulation running alongside common sense approaches to everyday routines, so let’s have a look at how much can be saved in the average home across a number of simple and inexpensive areas of improvement.
Insulation
Insulating a home is simple and essential as heat escapes via many different ways. Windows, doors and walls are all susceptible to heat loss, and insulating these areas effectively can bring surprising savings in the home.
Take the popular route of cavity wall insulation; this is relatively inexpensive these days as it is a routine procedure, and it can save in excess of £100 in a year. Given the purchase price, the home owner should see it pay for itself in three years.
Insulating ones loft to a greater degree is another simple and cost effective measure, and given that it saves around £100 annually for the average house can easily recoup the initial expenditure in a couple of years.
Fitting double glazing is often cited as an expensive method of improving efficiency, though it can save £40 yearly, while simply draught proofing those areas where cold spots seem to live can see saving of over £30 and the cost recouped in just three years.
All of these measures are simple and can be done quickly and at little expense, and all add to the energy efficiency of a home without any doubt at all.
Other energy saving advice
It is not only insulating the structure of the house that can save money; effectively lagging a hot water tank can result in some impressive savings, with costs recovered in just a year.
Improving or replacing old and outdated devices is also worthy of consideration; a new central heating boiler, for example, can save as much as £200 in a year and the outlay be recovered in five years. Modern boilers are supremely efficient and an up to date condensing combi-boiler is certainly something one should be looking at in terms of improving the home’s energy efficency.
Much has been written of late regarding energy efficient light bulbs, and much is scaremongering of a surprising nature. The newest versions are very efficient, reach full power almost instantly and are no more expensive than the traditional bulb; what’s more, fitting them across the board has been shown to save a notable amount of money, with £10 a year cited in many quarters.
Switching appliances off stand-by, keeping doors and windows closed and hanging heavier curtains in winter are all common sense approaches to increasing ones energy efficiency, and if it saves money then it must be a good thing. For very little effort one can induce savings of a serious nature.
Alongside trying to reduce consumption one should look at reducing your energy bills and expenditure, uSwitch.com is one of the comparison sites which can help you make comparisons with suppliers and often save you substantial amounts on your gas and electric bills.
If you require individualised information related to the energy efficiency of your property, there is no reason why you can not commision an Energy Performance Certificate and follow the recommendations found within it.
At present there is a consultation in regard to two new qualifications which will directly relate to ‘creating’ professionals to advise on your energy consumption; Housing Energy Adviser and Community Energy Adviser. However, this area warrants seperate consideration and details and we will be updating our blog shortly on this matter.
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