Low-cost home improvements
You can make small improvements to help make your home more energy efficient. They’ll usually cost between £10 and £150, but should save you money on your energy bills.
Take action this summer
Install an energy efficient shower head to save £40 a year
Energy efficient shower heads reduce the amount of water used by either regulating the flow or aerating the water. If your water is metered, it could also save you an additional £40 on your water bill. They can be purchased at any home improvement shop and fixed independently. Some water companies even provide them for free. They’re not suitable for electric showers, which should be switched to ‘eco mode’.
Get your boiler serviced
An annual service helps keep your boiler running safely. Faulty boilers can be very dangerous. During your boiler service, a Gas Safe registered engineer checks for leaks and issues and they will ensure that your boiler is running properly, which can save you money on future repairs.
Switch to energy saving light bulbs to save up to £40 a year
Standard or incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient. By switching to energy efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, you can save money on your energy bills while keeping your rooms well lit. LED light bulbs also last longer than traditional bulbs, saving on maintenance costs. The amount of light, or colour of the light (white to yellow) is not linked to a bulb’s energy usage, so you can get the same light at a much lower energy cost.
Get ready for winter
Service and maintain your heating system
Make sure you’re ready for winter by getting your heating system serviced. The summer months are a good time to arrange a professional service of your heating system as this is often a quieter time of year to find an installer. They can carry out or recommend the following:
Installing Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs):
Thermostatic or smart radiator valves can help improve your home’s energy efficiency by controlling the temperature of a room. Having TRVs installed on your radiators allows you to set the temperature in individual rooms. This makes it easier for you to keep rooms at a comfortable temperature and save on heating bills by only heating the rooms you need to
A deep clean of your heating system: radiator systems can often build up dirt and rust, known as ‘sludge’. This stops hot water flowing through the system properly and can create cold areas on your radiator, reducing efficiency and increasing your energy bills. An engineer can carry out a ‘flush’ of your heating system to remove sludge and add chemicals to your system to stop it building up again.
‘Balancing’ your heating system: heating systems can become ‘unbalanced’, meaning that one or more of the radiators in your property are not heating up properly, causing cold and hot spots to emerge in a house. An installer can carry out a process called ‘hydronic balancing‘ which ensures that the right amount of water is distributed in your heating system so that all your radiators heat up evenly.
Find and fix draughts to save up to £60 a year
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective actions you can take to stop or prevent heat escaping and reduce your energy bills. Block unwanted gaps around windows, doors, chimneys and floors that let the cold air in and warm air out. Window film is a form of temporary secondary glazing which helps stop heat escaping through glass. You can buy it at hardware shops and online and install it yourself or with the help of a professional.