Why Energy Efficiency is so important in today’s climate

Being energy efficient is not only about saving the planet by reducing harmful carbon emissions, but also about you saving money by reducing your domestic and other fuel bills. That way not only does the earth benefit but so do you and it’s a win-win situation for all!

In these days of ever-rising utility bills finding a way to reduce those bills sh ould be embraced as it is better to line your pockets than those of your energy provider’s shareholders. Saving money around the house is the first place to start. Let’s start by working out how to reduce your gas, electricity and water bills. Not only will your efforts reduce pressures on global warming, they will also lengthen the working life of your boiler and reduce your bills.

First, carry out an ‘energy audit’ on your home and from that you can highlight the action to be taken to improve your energy efficiency and to reduce your consumption. Carry out the audit in the order stated below and you will be able to refer to our forthcoming guides that follow this introduction to energy efficiency, and go into each section in more detail.

Start at the top of your home and work your way down. Is your loft adequately insulated? Current EU guidelines suggest that at least 270mm, almost 11 inches, of loft insulation is required and although many modern lofts are already insulated, they are not done so to that degree. New insulation can merely be laid on top of old insulation, so you may only need a few inches to top up to the recommended level.

Next we need to find out whether your walls are energy efficient. According to the latest figures from the Government Energy Efficiency Division, up to half of all heat loss from a home escapes through walls. Filling cavity walls with insulation can reduce that heat loss dramatically and on average save up £120 per year on the average domestic fuel bill. But, if you live in a pre-1940s home that has solid wall construction then heat loss can still amount up to 45%. Solid walls can be either insulated externally by using a form of rendering insulation or internally by applying dry lining thermal insulation, and again save a significant amount of money each year.

Eliminating draughts can also be a great way to improve the energy efficiency around your home. Draughts are best identified on particularly windy days and are most likely to occur around door frames and windows, particularly around ill-fitting wooden windows. Additionally, holes punched through the walls to allow for waste pipes or electrical wires, such as satellite cabling, can also be responsible for creating draughts. Draught insulation can also cut down heat loss estimated at around 15% of the total around the home.

Once we have identified all the areas from where your home is leaking energy, we will move onto the ways that you can cut down on energy and water consumption when using your appliances around the house. Keep tuned for our in-depth articles coming over the next few months.

Sources: National Insulation Association

If you found this article useful, please feel free to share it with others