Household
bills can soon add up, particularly if your house is like an icebox when the
temperature drops. However, there are a number of ways you could look to cut
your energy usage and – at the same time – do your bit to help the environment.
These tips could be well worth giving a go:
Make sure your boiler runs
efficiently
Boilers are
expensive to replace, but in the long-term can generate some decent annual savings.
There are various kinds available, so be sure to speak to an expert to find the
best option for you. If you’re not yet at the stage where it’s worth replacing
yours, why not make the one you already have run more efficiently? This could
be achieved by taking out boiler insurance with an annual
service included and
should make sure your house is kept warm all winter long.
Improve your insulation
It’s all
very well cranking up the heating in your home, but if insulation isn’t as it
should be it won’t keep your property toasty for as long as it should. You can
insulate your home in various ways, but as heat rises it might be worth looking
to seal off your roof first. The Energy Saving Trust suggests going from zero
insulation to 270mm will cost approximately £300 to install, but give you annual savings of as much as £180. You can do this job yourself, but
if your attic is difficult to access, suffers from damp or you have any other
uncertainties it’s worth getting a professional in. You could also consider
floor and wall insulation, as well as draught proofing if you’re keen to make
maximum savings in a financial and energy using sense.
Think of your lighting
In spring
and summer it’s easier to conserve energy in a number of ways, not least in
terms of lighting, whether that’s for indoors or out. With more natural light it’s
easy to throw the curtains wide and perhaps not need any artificial light until
late in to the evening. But when the nights do draw in, you might still be able
to make a reduction on your usual winter bills by using energy saving light
bulbs. Although these might cost you a bit initially, depending on the size of
your house, they last longer than older bulbs and can provide yearly savings of
around £60.
Wrap up warm and turn down the
thermostat
An easy
change to make is to put on an extra layer when the temperatures drop. So wear
a jumper around or wrap up in a blanket around the house rather than turning up
the thermostat. A couple of degrees lower may not seem likely to make much
difference to your bills, but give it a try and you might be surprised. If you
think for any reason your central heating isn’t working as efficiently as it
should be then consider calling in an expert to take a look at it. If you have
boiler cover then check your policy, as you may be entitled to a free annual
service.
Consider switching supplier
Don’t assume
your current energy supplier is giving you the best deal. If you’ve been with
one firm for a few years now then it’s well worth seeing what the competition
has to offer. Alternatively, find out if you’re on the right tariff or consider
switching how you pay. Sometimes costs can be cut by changing to a payment
method such as monthly direct debits, so it could be worth having a
conversation with your supplier.
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