Every year we promise that, before next winter, we will make sure to carry out jobs that will keep us warm and cosy while reducing our energy bills at the same time. Then, as time passes by, we enter the winter months without completing any of the work..
If you are one of those people and have decided that this is the year to undertake these money saving projects then read on. You will learn how to go about reducing your winter fuel bills that you may never have considered.
The main principle behind saving money is to stop any generated heat from escaping. There are lots of ways to do this, some are very expensive, and some are quite cheap. Depending on your budget, see how many projects you can undertake.
Energy Efficiency
If the central heating boiler is old, the home will surely benefit from a new, energy efficient replacement. Using less fuel to produce heat has to be the first issue to address.
Stop Heat Escaping Through The Roof
Heat rises and must be stopped by installing a good thermal barrier in the loft. Loft insulation is available on rolls in all DIY shops and is simple to install. Using a face mask to prevent you breathing in any of the nasty insulation fibres, gain access to the loft and begin rolling out insulation in the same direction as the ceiling joists. If you wish to improve the loft insulation further once the whole loft is covered, roll out another layer of insulation at ninety degrees to the first layer. There is no limit to how thick the insulation can be. In modern carbon-neutral homes, the insulation is often four feet thick and makes the home highly energy efficient.
Stop Heat Escaping Through The Windows
If your windows are old, draughty, and single glazed, maybe you will concede that it is time they were replaced. It doesn’t matter what style of windows your home boasts, there is a suitable modern alternative. Beautiful wooden sash windows, for example, are available from Sash Smart and other reputable companies, so there is no need to spoil the look of your home with modern uPVC frames.
Stop Heat Escaping Through The Walls
If your home is built of brick with cavity walls, it can be given a warm coat. Insulation can be blown into the cavities through pre-drilled holes. This job is inexpensive and is often completed in half a day. All of the work is carried out from the outside of the property, so there is no disruption to your home.
If there are no cavities to the building, it is still possible to insulate it by applying a layer of insulated plasterboard on the inside walls. This can be up to two inches thick, and it is easy, though messy, to install by a plasterer who will give it a good finish coat.
Every Little Helps
The above jobs may work out to be costly, but never forget the little things. By using draught excluder around doors and windows, fitting window blinds as well as heavy curtains, and using thick carpet instead of laminate flooring, any home can be made more cost and energy efficient relatively cheaply.
It is obvious that saving energy must be tackled from different directions, and when many small improvements work together, big money can be saved.