With the sudden energy price rises and the threat of a continuous increase as the year progresses, it’s vital now more than ever that we decrease our daily energy usage. We often fail to recognise what areas of our home are using the most energy, and often it can be the least suspected appliances or areas that are the culprits.
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It can be incredibly frustrating and frankly worrying to watch our bank accounts suffer with the continuous increase in cost of living. So much so, that we’ve researched and gathered the best hacks and home improvements to combat the ever increasing energy price rises. Here are some of our best tips and tricks:
Insulating Your Home Will Help Combat Energy Price Rises
The first thing you should consider when looking to decrease your energy bill is home insulation. Insulating your home drastically cuts the need for home heating in the colder months. There are a number of ways you can insulate your home to keep costs down:
Wall insulation
A third of all heat is lost through walls when homes are uninsulated, causing energy bills to skyrocket. New builds are now constructed with insulation included, however a lot of homes older than 30 years may not have insulation installed.
When considering insulating your home, you will need to consider the type of walls you are dealing with. You can contact a professional to look at your home and recommend the best type of insulation for you. There are two types of wall insulation available:
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- Single Wall Insulation
Cavity walls are two parallel walls with a space in between which can be filled with insulating foam spray. The average cost for installing cavity wall insulation for a detached single story house will be about £400-£450.
Single wall insulation is otherwise known as solid wall insulation. A single wall is a solid wall constructed with brick or stone. There is no cavity (space in between). This type of wall is most commonly found in houses built before 1920.
Insulation on solid walls can be done either internally or externally and can range between £8,000 to £22,000 depending on house size. Solid wall insulation can save you up to £415 a year on your energy and electricity bills, according to The Energy Saving Trust.
Floor Insulation
Floor insulation is the least popular of the three, due to the floor being the least problematic area when it comes to heat loss – however, you can still save and start tackling those energy price rises.
Flooring insulation installation and pricing fully depends on the type of flooring currently in the home, so it’s best to contact a professional to assess your home and offer a quote.
Roof and Loft Insulation
One quarter of heat lost from the home is through the roof and loft. As heat rises to an uninsulated roof or loft, it escapes through any gaps in the brick, plaster or woodwork.
Insulating a roof or loft can drastically cut down your yearly energy bills using mineral wool, and often it is quite an easy job to DIY – allowing you to save further. Although, you may wish to consult a professional before you begin to avoid issues.
Assessing Windows And Doors To Help Reduce Energy Price Rises
Windows are another huge factor for heat loss within the home. If your home currently boasts single glazed windows, updating your windows to double glazing is a great way of cutting down yearly energy costs.
Double glazing has two panes of glass instead of one, allowing for space in between which provides the insulation. New-builds are automatically constructed with double glazing, however, if your home is an older build you may want to assess your windows and have them updated.
The spaces around your windows and doors can allow for heat to escape and create an airflow in the home, known as a draught. It’s important that we draught-proof the home to avoid wasting energy. You can carry out DIY draught proofing to cover any gaps and cracks which may be causing the issue, however it may be more beneficial in the long run to consult a professional.
Improving Heating and Lighting Can Help Reduce Energy Price Rises
Did you know that your current lighting and heating methods could be costing you? Ensure you invest in energy saving bulbs to decrease yearly energy costs, such as, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs).
If your boiler is over 10 years old, it could also be a culprit in causing your energy bills to skyrocket. Boilers are expensive to replace, however replacing an old boiler with a newer, more energy efficient one may really be worth the investment in the long run.
Being Mindful of Energy Usage
It may be tough at first, but assessing the areas of your daily life where you can cut down on energy usage and implementing them can be a useful way of saving money.
Some easy things to implement into your daily/weekly routine are:
- Not using appliances for an extended time / more time than needed
- Turning your heating down a little
- Taking shorter daily showers
- Washing your clothes at a lower temperature
- Turning off lights when leaving the room
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