How to make your home more energy efficient this autumn

How to make your home more energy efficient this autumn

With the recent dreaded rise in energy bills, many of us are looking for ways to save by making our homes more energy efficient, especially as the temperature drops. Take a look at our top tips for making your home more energy efficient.

The first step to figuring out how you can improve your home’s energy efficiency is by looking at the property's EPC. An energy performance certificate shows the current and potential energy efficiency rating of your home from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It also lists ways you can improve the rating, this is a great place to start.

Make sure your home is properly insulated

Make sure your loft insulation is at least 270mm thick. The roof loses a quarter of the heat in a home. Loft insulation is simple to install and a low-cost starting point when it comes to improving your home's energy efficiency. Next, you can start to look at how well your floors and walls are insulated.

Upgrade to double-glazed windows

Older windows can account for up to 40% of heat loss in your home. Installing high-performance glazing can dramatically improve a home's energy efficiency.

LED bulbs should be used in place of halogen spotlights

In comparison to a halogen bulb, which has a working life of only two years, an LED light can last for 20-30 years. Installing LED bulbs in all lighting fixtures is a cheap and simple way to slightly improve your EPC rating.

Install a smart meter

Smart meters are an excellent method to show your renters how much energy they consume while also pushing them to change their habits to be less wasteful. It's amazing how economical a person can become when they can see the exact cause and effect of their behaviours, and how it connects to the amount of spare money they have at the end of the month!

Seal open chimneys 

Open fires and draughty chimneys actually make some difference to the EPC rating. If possible, block these up permanently, or install a closed heater in the opening to add a few further points of improvement.

Update your boiler or consider using an environmentally-friendly air/ground source heat pump

Heating systems are the cornerstone of a property’s EPC rating. Depending on the age of the existing boiler, switching to a newer, condensing model can significantly improve your rating. One of the major downfalls on a home’s energy efficiency is typically an inefficient boiler, whereas as a very efficient one could have a huge impact on your EPC score.