5 DIY Projects to Save Energy at Home
With heating and hot water accounting for half of the average household’s energy bills, it’s important to understand what you can do to make your home more energy-efficient for colder months and to help you save money on your costs.
There are many options available to help you save energy in your home depending on your budget – at Haldane Fisher with Plumbmaster and BATHLINE, we have a range of solutions worth considering if you have energy saving in mind.
Help Your Home Better Retain Heat with Insulation
A quarter of heat can be lost through the roof of a home without insulation. You may consider insulating your attic as it offers an effective solution to capture heat that would otherwise be lost.
The recommended thickness of loft insulation is 270mm. Increasing the depth of loft insulation can significantly boost your EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating and help you save money on your energy bills.
If your loft is easy to access, you may even consider doing it yourself – our team can help advise you on how to approach this and what materials you will need.
Prevent Draughts from Weighing on Your Energy Bills
Draught proofing your home is one of the most cost-effective ways of saving energy and reducing your household utility bills. If you’re considering taking some proactive steps to reduce your energy usage, you should consider blocking up unwanted gaps around your home that let cold air in and waste heat.
You will want to ensure you keep ventilation flowing throughout your home such as via extractor fans, wall vents etc. but there is an opportunity to seal up areas where air is not designed to flow through.
At Haldane Fisher, we have a range of door strips and sills, as well as adhesives and sealants to help you plug the gaps, and to ensure you can keep save energy and stay warm.
Stay in Control of Energy Costs with Thermostats
Heating controls and thermostats offer you flexibility and control over the energy you use in your home. Other benefits include consistent temperature heating in the home, greater convenience and efficiency to ensure you’re only using the heating when you need it.
Some models of thermostat are programmable meaning you will also save time by reducing manual adjustment of your heating settings by programming your heating usage in advance.
Thermostats are available online from all Plumbmaster outlets – contact us if you need help guide you to the most suited product for your needs.
Consider Heat Pumps as an Energy-Efficient Alternative
Heat pumps are significantly more efficient than traditional boiler options for your home – through use of cleaner electricity, you can reduce your home’s carbon footprint and your energy costs.
A heat pump takes heat from a low temperature source from the air or ground and increases this temperature before transferring it to your home to provide heating and hot water.
You can browse our range of heat pumps online or speak with a member of our Renewables Team for further information.
Save Energy in Your Bathroom with Underfloor Heating Mats
If you’re planning your next bathroom project you may want to consider an underfloor heating solution which offers lower energy usage when combined with smart heating controls. The system is compatible with all floor coverings including tiles, can be installed quickly, offers durability with a pressure sensitive adhesive for underfloor use, and importantly no increase in floor levels making it ideal for refurbishments and home improvements.
Ask in store at BATHLINE – Bathrooms at Haldane Fisher on how we can help keep the heat in for your bathroom project.
Shop our range of energy saving products or call into one of our branches to find out more and to speak with our expert team.
Sources: Help for Households Campaign – gov.uk, Energy Saving Trust.