How to Save Money With Energy Efficiency
How a few simple steps could allow you to save hundreds of pounds and become more energy efficient. If you were to believe recent reports, you could be forgiven that the age of energy efficiency was approaching the end of its cycle. Most recently, it was revealed that the number of UK households that were being helped by government initiatives to improve their energy usage had fallen by 75% since 2012, with financial incentives and programs no longer as accessible as they once were. This simply reflects changing government priorities, however, and it does not mean that homeowners should not take their own steps to create an energy efficient home.
3 Simple steps that will drive energy efficiency in your home
After all, these can deliver huge financial savings and help you to contribute to a healthier natural environment. So, here are three simple steps that can help you to achieve these goals: –
Seal your doors and windows
Incredibly, an estimated 20% of the heat in our homes is lost through cracks, gaps, and drafts, and this tends to become particularly noticeable during the winter months. This issue can be easily and cheaply negated, however, simply by investing in draft excluders and a single tub of Polyfilla. By using these items to block drafts and fill any cracks that exist in your interior walls, you can create a more energy efficient home and save huge money on your annual heating bills.
Insulate your loft space and interior
While this technique is a little more expensive, it is equally effective and can even trigger larger savings over time. While the number of government-backed incentives that are available may have dwindled in recent years, Property Rescue reports that the Conservatives are still on course to achieve their goal of reducing nationwide energy consumption by 11% by 2020. You can contribute to this by insulating your home interior and loft space, as this helps you to retain heat during the winter and maintain a cool airflow in the summer.
Ultimately, this is an investment that will quickly repay itself over the course of several years.
Consider installing solar panels
The installation of solar panels is a dream for many homeowners, but its sheer cost prevents many from making this a reality. It is even harder in the absence of government funding, although the cost of solar power is gradually falling as the technology behind it becomes increasingly accessible. As it becomes more feasible, you can use this solar financing calculator to determine the costs of having the panels fitted at your house, how it might benefit you in the long term, and what sort of profit you could hope to make. As an example, if you spend an estimated £7,000 on installing solar panels, you are most likely to have recouped this investment within five years, meaning that all subsequent savings translate into direct profit.
Insulating the house is very smart. You will seldom change the temperature of the thermostat. Installing solar panel is a bit pricey but i think of it as an investment. Good Read!
Some great advice! I love that you had some simple and cost-effective ideas as well as more involved and costly ones. While the big ticket items can save you a ton of money in the long run, some smaller changes can help you now!
Eventhough solar powers are so expensive and requires a lot of space the good thing about this that it is environment friendly, low maintenance and its renewable. Thanks for the awesome informative article! Good work!
I live in sunny, hot and humid Singapore. Sealing the windows is not a good idea with the dampness… but solar panels have been becoming cheaper and better these days, I will highly recommend it as well. Good work, and thanks for sharing!
Awesome, its time we use lesser fossil fuels, use clean energy like solar power and what not!