10 Ways To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

1/ Energy Efficient Windows

Energy efficient windows are extremely effective at saving energy around the home. They are manufactured in grades ranging from A-G, with A being the most energy efficient.

The windows help to keep heat in and the cold out, using reflective and insulating materials. However, due to the high levels of technology, they also help to keep the home from becoming too hot during the summer as well.

If you can't afford energy efficient windows, double glazing is a definite for those who currently do not have it installed.

2/ Insulated Roofing

Hot air rises. The roof is possibly one of the oldest features of any house and often gets overlooked. If the roof is not properly insulated a lot of warm air could be escaping.

Effective insulation slows the rate that heat flows out of the house in winter or into the house in summer, so less energy is required to heat or cool the house.

3/ Turn the Heater Down

After receiving insulation and energy efficient windows, a lot of people keep the heater at the same level out of habit and get used to the cosy feel that the warmer temperature offers. However, it is then negating the point of having them installed. So be sure to keep your heater at a reasonable level.

4/ Turn Off Rather Than Standby

There are countless devices in the home that can turn to standby. Many off us have got in to the habit of pressing that red button on our television to turn it “off”, or to let our computers just standby, this is costing money – whilst not vast amounts, it all adds up!

There are now plug adaptors available which can be turned off using a remote control, so no longer do you have to get up and turn it off manually (which can be a tough habit to get in to), but you can fully turn off the power with one click.

5/ Replacement Furnace

If your furnace was built before 1992 and has a standing pilot, it wastes approximately 35 percent of the fuel it uses, and it is probably near the end of its service life. Obviously this is a big waste of energy and could be worth looking in to a replacement.

6/ Water Efficiency

Insulate hot water lines, which will help them from cooling so quickly, meaning less time spent heating the water.

Another point is to add a blanket over the heater itself. If it's a fairly old heater it may be losing some heat, so an extra layer of insulation is easily added and may help to keep it warm.

7/ Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

They make take a few seconds to warm up, but they save a fair amount when it comes to energy bills. The bulbs are a fantastic invention and are arguably more aesthetically pleasing as well.

One of the main types of bulbs are halogen bulbs. These contain a halogen gas, which emits a bright white light. They emit a greater degree of light than standard light bulbs of a similar wattage and use less electricity, because of this they have a longer burn time.

8/ Filling Any Holes

Especially externally there may be very small areas where holes have been drilled to thread through cables and wires. They are very easy to seal by going to your local home improvement shop and buying some sealant. Simple, yet you'll be surprised at how much warmer your house can feel afterwards. It will also help to keep insects from getting in as well.

9/ Energy Assessment

It can be difficult to comprehend where you are going wrong with your homes energy efficiency. Energy Auditors can come in and assess the energy efficiency of your home and advise where to improve. If your home is fairly old, this can be a fantastic resource.

10/ Move

A very drastic and last measure, but if your home is beyond repair, would cost to much to fix and the lack of energy efficiency is driving you crazy, it may be worth packing up and moving on.