By just taking a few simple steps, from turning your thermostat down slightly or washing your laundry on cold, you can reduce how much energy you use in the home. This can not only have a big impact on the environment, but also on your energy bills. Simply put, when you use less energy, you don’t need to pay as much for it. The sooner that you start to make some changes, the more you will be able to reduce your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint, all at the same time.
With all of that in mind, here are some simple changes that you can make yourself, or quick fixes that won’t take long to do, but can make a big difference to improving your EPC rating of the home. Which will you be looking to do first?
Insulate your loft
A loft space that isn’t insulated well is something that can cause a lot of energy to be wasted. Heat rises, and in the winter months, it can rise and leave your home through the ceiling if it isn’t well insulated to keep it all there. According to the British Energy Saving Trust, you can save around $300 per year by insulating your roof, and it won’t cost anywhere near that amount to get it done.
Improve your boiler
If you have a boiler that isn’t working well, then it can add a lot of money to your energy bills. That means that when it comes to your boiler, upgrading it or improving it is a good way to cut how much you have to pay for your energy and heating water in the long term. Getting a new or upgraded boiler can also be a good way to reduce the carbon emissions from the home, as more modern boilers are going to be much more energy-efficient.
Save water with your showerhead
As much as everyone likes to have a bath, they can use up a whole heap of water. Taking a shower is the best option when it comes to the energy you use up, as it will mean much less water needs to be heated. But even so, could you make your shower even more energy efficient? If you want to save even more on your bills, then reduce the amount of water that you use. This can be done by timing yourself, as well as getting something like a water-saving showerhead. You won’t compromise on water pressure, but it will just use much less than before.
Consider solar panels
Solar panels mean that you can generate some power and energy of your own, and you could even sell some of it back to the grid, to make money, depending on where you live in the world. If you’re a landlord, this could be a good thing to consider. Solar panels although can be an upfront cost, do mean a much more energy-efficient home overall, and can definitely be worth it in the long run.
