How to improve the energy rating of your home.
With colder temperatures fast approaching and spending more time at home, your energy bills will start increasing. But you can help minimise it by improving your energy efficiency in your home (whilst also minimising your environmental impact) so win, win!
Calculate first.
Before attempting to do anything you need to calculate your current energy rating. You can do this with your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (also known as an EPC). It is the most reliable and efficient calculation. The report includes your property’s current energy efficiency rating (G is lowest and A is highest) and recommendations on where to make improvements. This can be found online for free if you have built, bought or rented your home within the last 10 years. Alternatively, there are other online calculators that you can search for.
Double glaze.
Your windows and window-frames impact your home energy efficiency massively. The quality should be efficient to retain heat and prevent cold air from entering your home. It is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency, it can also reduce noise filters from outside. That would be useful if you can't stand noise!
Boiler upgrade.
Ensuring your boiler is running efficiently is the number one priority for improving energy efficiency. Heating and hot water usually account for up to 60% of energy bills, so if your boiler is lacking and not running as efficiently, it makes more financial sense to replace it with a modern one with a good energy rating.
Using energy-efficient appliances.
Switching or upgrading to energy-efficient appliances not only help you improve the energy rating of your home but can also help save you money. It can reduce yearly bills anywhere from £3 to £35 on average. This may not seem like a lot, but it is money in your pocket!
Insulation is key.
Insulating your floors, walls, ceilings and loft can help massively with improving energy efficiency in your home. It also reduces the need for heating and cuts back massively on bills. However, doing them all together can come with a hefty price so maybe focus on one thing at a time?
The silent hero.
Yes, you guessed it, radiators are the silent heroes for an energy-efficient home. However, sticking with an older inefficient radiator can give quite the opposite effect. According to the UK’s leading radiator supplier, Trade Radiators, you should be following “the ten-year rule” so if your radiator is much older than 10 years, it definitely needs a change.
Switching to solar.
Switching to solar can be a great source of green energy for your home. We know what you're thinking that we don't have the sun here in the UK for solar! But, believe it or not, solar has come a long way. Solar panels are now able to generate power even when it’s cloudy! The only negative factor of installing them is it can be a tad bit expensive… so we would recommend this being the last option.