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Unpredictable weather and more regular heat waves are now becoming the norm, and this is why many more people are now looking for ways to lessen their carbon footprints and reduce the impact that they are having on the environment.
One of the best ways that we can help to do this is to make our homes more energy efficient – this means both reducing the amount of energy that we are using, and also using it more efficiently. Energy wastage can have a massive impact on the environment and can also be very costly for individuals and businesses.
With this in mind, whether you are buying a new property or are wanting to ensure that your existing property is as energy efficient as possible there are several measures that you could consider, to make it more energy efficient.
Regardless of the property, there may already be some energy-saving measures in place. Even very old, listed buildings have some measures that can be put in place. It is important to know where you are starting from before you consider any other measures, and this can be done through an Energy Performance Certificate.
An Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) is an energy audit that is required by law whenever a property changes hands (is sold or new tenants move in). The audit will look in detail at the energy efficiency of the building, and at measures such as any insulation, double glazing, pipe lagging, and the age of the boiler.
The assessor will take notes of these details, as well as give the house an energy rating, and make recommendations on how you can improve the energy efficiency of the property. It is this list of recommendations that you can then use to guide you into the energy-saving measures that you go on to install.
Often, a great amount of heat is lost through the windows – especially if they consist of just one pane of glass. The heat can escape by convection through the glass, but also draughts around the edge of the window.
This can be reduced by the installation of double or triple glazing. By adding another pane of glass, the air between them as well as the other pane of glass can help to insulate the window – and due to its nature, can reduce the number of draughts that exist around the window frame.
Unless you are living in a new build property, there may be parts of your home that could be insulated or better insulated. A lot of the heat inside your property can be lost through the roof, for example. By insulating the loft (to the current regulation of 250mm in depth), you can reduce the amount of heat that is lost through the roof.
In addition, if your house has a cavity in the walls, you can improve its insulating qualities by getting cavity wall insulation – where the cavity is filled with insulating material. If you do not have a cavity in your walls, there are also other options – such as external wall insulation. You should make sure that you get a certified installer to install your wall insulation.
Other types of insulation include floor insulation and pipes and hot water tank lagging.
It is surprising how much hot water we all use in our everyday lives at home. From showering to washing our clothes to the running of the dishwasher, hot water is not only used commonly but also far more expensive to use than cold water.
In some circumstances, it is possible to reduce your use of hot water. This could be by taking a shower instead of a bath, but also, you could consider running your clothes washing machine on cold water (especially for only lightly soiled clothes). Running a cold wash will also reduce the amount of colour fading or bleeding, and the risk of the shrinkage of your clothes.
You could also consider getting a hot water heater with a thermal store. This means that you are able to heat your water through more renewable sources such as solar panels or heat pumps, then store it using this system, enabling you to use the hot water when you wish.
In contrast with existing hot water systems, these mean that you can use sustainable and efficient methods to heat your water, which is available to you immediately and no water heating process is needed.
Another major way that you can reduce the amount of energy that you are using in your home is to update your heating system. Old heating systems such as gas boilers and not only less economical than modern systems but can quickly become even less efficient over a few years.
It is well worth updating your heating system, and here at Heat Electric, we recommend that you get an electric heating system. There are a number of reasons why an electric heating system is a great way to help you to make your home more energy efficient. These include:
If you are considering getting electric heating, why not take a look at our website and find a system that perfectly suits your needs? You can also contact one of our team today for further information.
