When it comes to running and maintaining our own homes, it is easy to lose track of how much energy we may be using up unnecessarily. Wasted energy is both harmful to the environment and results in wasted money - and most of us would like to be able to cut the cost of bills wherever possible. By taking some simple DIY energy saving measures it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of running your home and also help take care of the environment.
One of the major ways in which energy can be wasted is by heating your home inefficiently and therefore the first area to check out is the source of heat itself. Get to grips with your boiler and give it a health check - if it is over 15 years old the chances are it will need replacing. By law, new boilers now have to be of a high efficiency condensing type and these are usually also fitted with controls that include a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves. The change in the law is excellent news since these new types of boilers can drastically cut CO2 emissions and reduce household bills by around £200 per year.
Whilst looking at the heating, remember to inspect your hot water tank. Fitting an insulation jacket on a tank will stop it from losing heat and although it only costs from around £10 to fit, it could help save up to £20 per year on bills. It is a relatively simple DIY job to carry out: you just need to make sure that the jacket is British Standard and three inches (75mm) thick. Standard hot water tank jackets are available at any good DIY store.
Next, take a good look at any areas where heat might be escaping from your home without your knowledge. Ill-fitting or outdated windows are often a major culprit when it comes to wasted energy, which could in turn be costing you up to £100 per year. If you are looking to save energy and do not already have double or secondary glazing, it is something you should consider since it can reduce heating loss by half. Research your options by consulting a top double glazing specialist such as Pilkington. They offer the latest in glass products and can advise you on the best way keep the heat more securely inside your home.
