Water-saving shower heads
One thing people assume is you are more efficient using a shower compared to a bath, but this is not always the case. There are showers like high-volume power showers that usually use more water than an average bathtub. If you are using an electric shower, you don’t have to worry about it because they have designed to only heat the water you are using – but if the shower is taking hot water from a hot water tank or boiler, then fit a special water-efficient shower head. They are going to help in reducing the amount of water you are using. The newer designs are very efficient and can reduce your usage from 22 litres/minute to nine/minute or even less. You can end up saving £70 on gas and £115 on water bills a year.
LED low-voltage light bulbs
One of the quickest and easiest ways of saving energy is changing light bulbs and using low-voltage LED bulbs instead. These can be found in the supermarket. Put them on your list so you can pick them up as you go for your weekly shopping. There has been a lot of advancement in the LED field and they are nowadays bright as the normal bulbs. The only change you Are going to notice is lower bills. LED bulbs are a good investment because they last 50 times longer while using 90% less energy compared to halogen bulbs. You can end up saving £35 a year.
Switching to smart power strips from regular extension cables
Every home use extension leads because there are many devices being used, with most of them designed to be on standby or need charging regularly. You should get ‘smart’ power strips, which look like the normal extension leads, but you have the option of turning all the standby devices all at once. There are some that have a timer so you can set them to go off when you are asleep. The basic smart strip costs about £15 and it will help you make sure your standby devices are not using any energy when they aren’t being used.
Professional floor plans are designed to allow for the entry of natural light into every room within the home. Ideally, the design of the rooms should allow light to come through the windows and doors. This makes it easy to navigate the space and allows you to save money on energy costs.
Seal gaps around windows and doors
You might have noticed draughts if you are living in a period home. The newer homes have been properly draught-proofed. If you feel the chill, then know you are losing both heat and money. Check the gaps around the doors, windows, chimneys, and floors. It can be expensive to get a [professional to do it for you, but you can try using self-adhesive foam, plastic, or metal strips – with or without brushes – when the gaps are large. If it is a smaller draught, you can use silicone sealant. Some other simple solutions that can help include letterbox flaps and covers, keyhole covers, and flexible silicone fillers between pipework and floorboards. You can find all of these in your local store.
Insulating the attic and eaves
You are losing about a quarter of heat through the roofing if your home is uninsulated. Hot air rises and is lost in the cold space in your attic or loft. Begin by blocking the draughts around the loft hatch. You do this like you would a door, using low-cost strip insulation. You can also use a sealant; make a visit to your local hardware store. Make sure you have insulated your attic, loft or flat roof too. This an effective yet simple solution that is going to last for 40 years – it is going to pay for itself many times over. You save a lot since you are doing yourself and not spending it on hiring professionals. A roll is going to cost you about £20 each. If you are working with a small budget, you can do areas in stages. There are some cases where you can get grants from the government. This can end up saving you as much as £250 on your heating bill in a year.