Replace your old, inefficient boiler
If you take good care of your boiler, your boiler will take good care of you.If your boiler is old, it is likely to be inefficient. This means it will take more energy to do a worse job than that of a new and efficient boiler. This is because modern boilers are more energy efficient than older models. So, if you have a boiler that is more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it with a more energy-efficient condensing one.
To find out more about why you should service and/or upgrade your boiler, please click here.
Turn down the thermostat
Did you know that turning down your room thermostat by just one degree could save £50+ on your heating bills each year? It could also remove more than 300kg of carbon dioxide a year from your household carbon footprint.
Your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature. This is usually between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Remember – you don’t need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside as the house will heat up to the set temperature regardless.
Update your heating controls
More than half of a typical household’s energy bill goes on heating and hot water. By upgrading or installing new heating controls without replacing your boiler, you could save up to £75 each year on your energy bill. These heating controls could include a new thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves. Using these controls efficiently can reduce your energy usage and in turn reduce your energy bill saving you money. Installing a smart meter could also help you save energy and money, as you know how much energy you use.
Tackle draughty areas
Unless your property is a new-build, it is likely that you will lose some heat through draughts around doors and windows, gaps in the floor, or if you have one, up the chimney. To combat this, you should tackle draughty spots in your home with professional draught-proofing, which could save you more than £20 each year on your energy bill. The installation of a chimney draught excluder could also save you money on your energy bill.
Insulate your home
Around 30% of the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls. This means making sure you have proper insulation on your solid walls and cavity walls could help keep the heat in and lower your energy bills this winter. If you live in a house, bungalow or ground floor flat, you could be losing heat from the bottom of your home. Insulating under the floorboards could save you about £40 a year. Insulating the top of your home (the roof or attic) is also an effective way to reduce heat loss and lower your energy usage.
Turn off standby
You can reduce your electricity bill and avoid emitting CO2 by not leaving your electrical products on stand-by. Instead you should turn your appliances off standby mode or unplug them when they are not in use. Most electrical appliances are able to be turned off at the plug without interfering with their settings, which can save you more than £30 a year on your energy bill.
Don’t overload your appliances
Whether it is overfilling your kettle or putting too much in your tumbler-dryer, you shouldn’t overload your appliances. Tumble dryers consume more energy than most washing machines. By not overfilling it, you can use a fast spin and in turn use less energy. When using a kettle, you should only put in the amount of water you need, as overfilling your kettle wastes energy and money.
You should also try to use a cool temperature on your washing machine. This is because 90% of the energy a washing machine uses goes towards heating the water. A 30°C wash could save over a third of the energy you use when compared to washing at a higher temperature.
Want to save energy this winter?
From saving you money on your energy bills to helping the environment, saving energy in your home is always good. If you’re looking to save energy and money this winter, get in touch with our team today – they will be happy to talk you through your energy-saving options. Give us a call on 0117 287 2811 or drop us an email at office@williamsswltd.co.uk to find out more about our services.
