7 Plus 1 Secrets To Increase Your Energy Performance
Seven Plus One Secrets to Increase The Energy Performance of Your House and Start Saving Money As Soon As Today
Saving energy even in small ways can lead to big savings and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping save our planet. Turning off the lights when not in use and other habit changes are definitely part of the solution. But there are plenty of other measures available today that can help increase the energy performance of your house. Here are some carbon-reducing and energy-saving opportunities anyone can take, saving almost £1,000 per year on your household bills.
A. Low-Cost Solutions
The measures given here are very cost effective and easy to implement. Some of these measures could be taken as DIY projects but remember not all DIY projects are clear-cut and simple, some of them might have a health and safety risk. You are advised to follow manufacturers’ instructions before carrying out DIY improvements and make sure you use recommended protective gloves, footwear and masks when doing the work.
Loft Insulation
Do you know, without proper insulation a lot of the valuable, expensive energy you use to heat your home will be lost through the loft? A well insulated loft keeps the heat indoors.
Insulating your loft is a simple and effective way to improve your levels of comfort, reduce energy use, lower fuel bills and you can Do It Yourself. Using less energy would mean reducing your carbon footprint and help the environment while saving money.
Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years, and it will pay for itself over and over again during that period.
Hot water cylinder insulation
A great amount of energy is used by the hot water cylinder in your home in order to maintain the water temperature at the required level. This causes loss of energy and higher fuel bills.
You can reduce the waste of energy by installing thick layer of insulation around the hot water cylinder. Installing a jacket of 160mm thickness (or two 80mm jackets) around the hot water cylinder would be the best solution to stop the energy loss. If there are space constraints, even an 80mm thick insulation would be enough.
Low energy lighting
Prefer buying Energy Star compact fluorescents (CFLs), which are proved best for their quality and durability. Replacing traditional bulbs with more energy efficient CFLs will not only reduce the energy cost significantly but the CFLs last 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.
Heating controls
Heating controls solutions ensure that the boiler is turned on only when it is needed. Once the controls are installed, you need to make sure you use them correctly to reduce your household’s energy bills and CO2 emissions. A properly controlled heating system should typically have:
- A time programmer
- Room thermostats (one for each level of the property)
- Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
Programmable thermostats, room thermostats and TRVs, all need a free flow of air to sense the temperature of the space. They should not be covered by curtains or blocked by furniture or any other object. Any source of heat nearby such as lamps can also affect their performance.
It is advisable to seek expert opinion from a qualified heating engineer.
B. Long-Term Solutions
Condensing Boiler
Condensing boilers (gas or oil fueled) are the most efficient boilers in the market. They allow big energy savings in comparison to conventional boiler versions. The efficiency rate of old conventional boilers is 60% (converting fuel into heat), while the efficiency of new condensing boilers are often above 90%. That’s a huge energy saving which also cuts the CO2 emissions significantly. The secret of these boilers is on their design which ensures maximum heat extraction and small loss of gases.
Solar Water Heating System
Solar water heating systems can be a highly cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate and the fuel they use, sunlight, is free. A Solar water heating system includes storage tanks and solar heating panel which are usually fixed to the roof. A Solar water heating system would require Wiring and plumbing work. It is better to obtain advice from a qualified heating engineer.
In UK, the Solar Trade Association can provide you and updated information on local installers and any grant that may be available or you can contact the Energy Saving Trust.
Double glazing
Research has shown that up to 25% of the heat in a home is lost through inefficient windows. When fitting double glazing windows you can reduce the cost of gas, oil or electricity bills considerably.
Replacing existing single-glazed windows with double glazing will not only improve the comforts in the home by reducing draughts and noise levels but also improve the security and combat condensation problems.
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
A solar PV system converts solar power into electricity via solar cells or solar panels placed on the roof with no waste and no emissions.
The British Photovoltaic Association has up-to-date information on local installers who are qualified electricians and any grant that may be available. It is best to obtain advice from a qualified electrician.
C. Action You Can Take Right NOW
The following actions will save energy in your home and reduce your energy bills.
Ø Check that your room thermostats as well as your boiler thermostat are not set too high Indoors a setting at 21°C is recommended. Also, make use of the timer to ensure you only heat your house when you want.
Ø Use your dishwasher or washing machine with a full load.
Ø Dry your clothes in the sun.
Ø Do not leave appliances on standby and turn off lights when not needed.
Ø Remember to close your curtains at night to avoid heat escaping through the windows.
About the Author:
Alex Papa is a world class internet marketer and the founder of epc4less.com, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Energy Performance Certificates. He is also the author of the book “How to Find Your Own Hot and Insanely Profitable Products To Sell Online”. You can get a free copy of this book at FindWhat2Sell.com