In this blog, we are going to cover five easy ways of saving energy (and money) without spending a lot of money. You will use low-cost kits that you can easily find online or your local hardware store. You can expect to spend less than £20.
Water-saving Showerheads
Many people assume that showering is more efficient than taking a bath, but this isn’t always the case. A high-volume power shower is going to use more water compared to an average bathtub. This is not for you if you have an electric shower because it has been designed to only heat the water needed. If your shower takes hot water from a hot water tank or boiler, then consider getting a water-efficient showerhead. You can expect to make savings of up to £115 on water bills, and £70 a year on gas.
LED Low Voltage Bulbs
One of the quickest and easiest and ways of saving energy is replacing your bulbs with low-voltage LED bulbs. You can find them at your local supermarket, which means you can get them the next time you are going for grocery shopping. LED bulbs today are as bright as normal bulbs, but the main difference is the energy it consumes. You can expect to get savings the moment you start using them because they use about 90% less energy than normal bulbs and last 50 times longer. This simple change can result in savings of more than £35 every year.
Using Smart Power Strips instead of Regular Extension Cables
Extension cables allow you to use many devices on the same socket, with some designed to be kept on standby or charging regularly. There are ‘smart’ power strips that look the same as your extension cables, but you can turn on the standby devices at a go. There are smart strips that come with a timer, which means you can set a time when they can go off even if you are not around. You can expect to get a basic smart strip for around £15, and you never have to worry about standby devices draining your energy when they are not in use.
Sealing Gaps around Windows and Doors
You might notice draughts when you live in a period property – most newly built homes, like Reading serviced apartments, are draught proofed. If you are feeling the chill inside the house, then it means you lose heat too. Check your windows, doors, chimney, and floors for gaps. Hiring a professional to draught-proof your home is expensive, but you can do it on your own using self-adhesive foam, plastic strips, or metals when fitting large gaps or silicone sealant. Other easy ways include letterbox flaps and covers, keyhole covers, and flexible silicone fillers between pipework and floorboards. You can easily find all of these in shops such as B&Q.
Insulating Your Eaves and Attic
The first place to get started with is to block off draughts around the loft hatch. You don’t have to spend much to do this, a low-cost strip insulation is enough. Do the same way you would with a door or sealant. You can find this in your local hardware sealant. Also remember to insulate the attic, loft, and roof too. This is simple and it is going to be effective for about 40 years – this means it is going to pay itself many times over, and you can do it yourself instead of hiring a professional. Each roll is going to cost about £20 each, which means you can do it in stages if you don’t have the budget. You can expect to save up to £250 every year on your heating bill by doing this.