Check your insulation is up to scratch
Improved insulation will keep your home heated for longer without wasting energy or money. Most people have some level of insulation, but it’s worth checking to see if it could be improved. The thicker the insulation, the more you’ll save. We recommend using 270mm of insulation, which could save you up to £150 on fuel bills, depending on your current insulation level.
As well as the loft, you should also check your walls. About one third of heat lost in an uninsulated home is through the walls. Insulating wall cavities could save you around £115 a year on your energy bills. It costs about £250 to install so you can recover your costs in two-years, and it only takes a few hours to fit. If cavity wall insulation is not suitable for your home, try solid wall insulation.
Wave goodbye to draughts
Draught proofing is one of the most inexpensive and effective energy efficiency measures you can carry out – no matter how big or small your home. Draught proofing could save you £25 on you energy bills and 130kg of carbon dioxide a year. And the good news is that if you’re a DIYer, you can probably do the draught proofing yourself. Check for the typical sources of draughts - gaps between or around floorboards, around windows or doors, pipe-work, windows, loft hatches, electrical fittings, ceiling-to-wall joints, letterboxes, chimneys, redundant extractor fans and cracks in walls.
Switch to energy saving lightbulbs
You will be using your lights a lot more during the darker winter months, so switch to energy saving lightbulbs. These use up to 80% less electricity than standard bulbs and last around 10 times longer. Depending on how long your lights are in use each day, just one energy saving lightbulb could save you on average around £2.50 a year, and around £6 for brighter bulbs or those used for more hours a day. And because it will last around 10 times longer than a standard bulb, it could save you around £40 before it needs replacing.
Get a healthy boiler and insulated pipes
Get someone to service your boiler to make sure your heating system is healthy before winter sets in. You can also bleed your radiators so they work more effectively. If you have a hot water tank, check if your water pipes and hot water tank are properly insulated. If not, lag the pipes and tank to prevent hot water cooling. This could save you around £35 a year.
Take control of your heating system
Use heating controls to make sure you only heat the rooms you are using. Keep doors closed so that the heat stays where you want it. There are lots of different types of heating controls – programmers, room thermostats, cylinder thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves. Heating controls are easy to install but you will need to take the time to learn about different programming systems.
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