How Can You Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Property?
Energy is a major topic of discussion in homes around the country at present, for two key reasons. Climate change is weighing heavier on the minds of the British public, for one; for another, using energy has become significantly more expensive over the past two years, as various living costs continue to inflate. If you’re wanting to reduce your carbon footprint even more, look into growing your own food in small polytunnels to fulfil a nutritious and rewarding plate. With all this in mind, reducing energy usage in the home has become more of a priority for many. If you are one of those many, what are some of the more impactful ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency?
Heating and Plumbing
The most effective way to improve your home’s energy efficiency is highly likely to be replacing your heating system altogether. The vast majority of homes in the UK have combi boilers at the heart of their heating system, which are efficient in comparison to the conventional tank-based heating systems of yesteryear. However, they remain inefficient in the face of modern-day alternatives, largely through their reliance on the burning of natural gas. Electric alternatives are less burdensome on the environment, but newer designs of any stripe are better overall.
The buck does not stop with the boiler itself, though. The delivery of hot water from the boiler to the radiators and faucets of the home should also be considered. Plumbing issues or poor plumbing decisions are rife; in using plumbers’ tools to diagnose and fix specific issues, you can improve heat transfer around your home and improve efficiency as a result.
Insulation
With the active side of home energy efficiency in hand, you can turn your mind to the passive: insulation. Insulating your home is another extremely impactful way to improve energy efficiency, by reducing your overall use and reliance on your central heating system.
The most effective form of insulation is cavity wall insulation, which is pumped in between the two leaves of your exterior wall. The Energy Saving Trust suggests that, in the case of detached homes, doing this could reduce energy bills by as much as £455 per year.
Smart Technology
Finally, there are some third-party tech innovations you could fold into your home innovations and investments, in order to make it much easier for you to manage your home’s heating system. ‘Smart meters’ are already commonplace in homes, with energy suppliers expected to offer a pre-set amount to customers each year.
These allow you to track your energy usage down to the penny, and incentivise shrewd usage; however, they are not the smartest device you can make use of.
There are also smart thermostats, which can allow you to control or programme your heating system remotely. More advanced forms of this technology allow you to target individual rooms, preventing you from manually adjusting radiators. Not only do you get the luxury of ‘pre-heating’ your home on your way back from work, but you also get to cut down unnecessary heating with instantaneous instruction through an app or even voice assistants.
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