We all know that energy is expensive and any saving we can make is a major help with the household budget as well as helping the environment. What’s surprising though is how much you can save simply with greater efficiency, whether it’s properly maintained boilers in Haslemere or making sure you turn off appliances you’re not using.
The average house in the UK spends around £1,200 a year on energy an amount which could be significantly more than it needs to be.
Simple economy measures
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to save energy. It’s possible to start with a few simple measures. Not leaving appliances on standby for example or turning off lights when you leave a room. Washing your clothes at a lower temperature can make a difference too. Most modern washing machines have low temperature or energy saving settings. Getting an energy monitor can help you understand how you’re using power and which appliances in your home are consuming the most. It may come as a great surprise what is consuming the most energy in your house. There is a chance it could be due to your fireplace. A fireplace such as a stove that is on regularly like on winter nights could be very energy consuming. A possible solution to this is to limit how long you use a stove for. Different Stoves would have energy efficiency and would need a stove company to explain which kind of stove would best suit your needs. If you’re interested in optimising you’re stove use, you may wish to consider a wood burning stove Northern Ireland company such as http://www.stovebay.com/stoves/category/40-wood-burning-stoves#.XLCTz-hKhPY
who like other companies would give you the information on which stoves are most effective.
A lot of energy is wasted by letting heat escape, so you can save by making sure that your insulation is effective. Simple measures like draught-proofing your windows and doors or adding thermal curtain linings can make a big difference. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more then checking your loft insulation is adequate. You can look at cavity wall insulation too but check that you’re in a suitable location.
It’s also important to understand how to use your heating controls so that you only heat your home when you need to and keep it at a comfortable temperature.
More expensive options
If you’re prepared to invest a bit more into cutting your energy bills then you might want to consider measures such as generating your own electricity. The most common option for this is solar panels – which can also be used for water heating – but you may also consider installing a wind turbine.
Other options to think about might be heat pumps that draw heat from the ground or the air, or if you live in the countryside you might think about a wood-burning stove.