How to Create an Energy-Efficient Home

Looking for ways to create an energy-efficient home? Aided by a few tips and tricks, you will be helping both the environment and your pocket in no time. Lower fuel bills, cheaper home insurance and better air quality are all perks of having an energy-efficient home that you won’t want to miss out on. And if you choose to sell your home, you’re likely to benefit from the value that your adjustments have added to the price of your property.

Invest in insulation

The main thing that results in heat loss in your home is a lack of insulation, particularly if you live in an older house. According to insulation specialists Green Match, the walls are the most important part of your house to insulate properly. This is because 30 to 40 per cent of heat loss occurs through the walls. Your second priority should be roof insulation. Roofs account for about 25% of heat loss.  Finally, look at windows and doors, as this accounts for 20% of heat loss.

Once you’re satisfied with the insulation in these areas of the house, consider floor insulation.

Though insulation can be a significant initial outlay, the savings on bills should mean it pays for itself in the long run. If you’re worried about finding the money to pay for the installation upfront, consider whether a quick online loan alternative could be a helpful solution.

Get an EPC

An Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC, is a legal document that indicates how energy-efficient a property is, and what could be done to improve it. It also gives you an estimation of how much your bills will cost. You are required to obtain an EPC whenever selling or renting your home, but it can also be useful to get one for your own reference. It gives you a comprehensive view of how your home measures up in terms of energy efficiency.

An EPC rates the property on a scale of A-G (with A being the highest level of efficiency). The Office of National Statistics has found that the age of the property is most likely to affect energy efficiency, with almost all properties built after 2012 in the UK having a strong EPC rating of C and above. Conversely, properties built before 1900 are most likely to have lower ratings and require improvements.

Switch off plugs

Something as simple as turning off your appliances once you’ve finished using them can add up over a year and knock money off your bills. Chronicle Live reports that simply switching everything you’re not using off at the sockets could save you at least £120 each year. Even if a device is plugged in at the wall but not actively being used, it will still use electricity. Some of the devices that use the most electricity are televisions, along with TV boxes and recorders. Over 98% of British households admit they leave their TV on standby all the time. Switching it off at the socket when not in use is a quick win.

Everyone’s house is different. Being aware of the tweaks that yours needs to make it more energy-efficient is the first step in creating a home that’s greener, comfier and cheaper to run.

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash