Saving energy is predominantly a concern for the Winter months. When the temperatures start to drop, and home heating becomes a worry, people tend to fret and do all they can to save on energy bills. It’s a smart decision, as things can very easily get out of hand if the weather is doing all it can to make your home unbearably cold.
But energy saving habits don’t need to go away when the temperatures begin to rise again. Far from it – keeping energy costs down should be a year-round process.
With Spring arriving soon, it is high time you consider how best to save energy when it isn’t at the forefront of your mind. Here are a few tips to help you out.
Reset Thermostats
There are plenty of myths about heating your home. Chief among which is that a thermostat has to be higher in the Winter to counteract the colder temperatures outside. This is false. A central heating system is designed to maintain a constant heat around the house, regardless of temperatures outside. So a comfortable 18℃, room temperature room in Spring will be exactly as comfortable as an 18℃ room in the Winter. So check that no one has turned the temperature up. And if you want to be more in charge of this year round, then you should. . .
Install a Smart Meter
The wisest way to keep track of everything to do with your energy bills is to install a smart meter. These devices keep track of your daily usage of electricity and gas, and can relay that information to you no matter where you are. The home owner can then choose to turn the heating on or off remotely. If you don’t have one yet, you will want to telephone your energy company, as soon – per government ruling – they will be obligated to fit your home with one.
Loft insulation
We at York Fireplaces know how important loft insulation is. Fireplaces can only do so much if the heat is quickly escaping through a poorly insulated roof. But insulating the loft in the Winter isn’t a fun prospect. Hours spent in a cold and often damp room putting up insulation is no ones idea of a good time. But now that the weather is set to pick up, it’s a much less miserable task. Plus, if you do it correctly once, you’ll feel the benefits for years to come in all seasons.
Solar Panels
But why stop at insulation? Why not go from under the roof to on top of it with some solar panels! It is something of a waste of time installing these in the Winter, when light is scarce and conditions are not ideal for moving about on a roof. But, now that it’s warmer and drier, it’s a great time to take the plunge. We don’t suggest you do this on your own though – fitting solar panels can be a complicated job, so get professionals in to do it.
Energy efficient bulbs
The UK weather means we aren’t guaranteed to have a warm Spring, but it will almost certainly be brighter than the dark Winter we just had. So take the time to swap out your existing bulbs for energy saving ones. You’ll be using them less often, and your house will be brighter on the whole anyway. It therefore makes no sense to continue using energy sapping bright bulbs when there really is no need to.
Washing line
Speaking of energy sapping – do you know what is the most energy intensive appliance in your house? The tumble dryer. It’s a necessary tool in the Winter, but now the sun will (or should) pop it’s head out more often, it’s time to use the washing line again. You’ll be saving a lot of money on bills, as you’ll be switching from using a lot of energy to none at all!