Four Hacks to Create a Smart, Efficient Home
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Homes which are smart and efficient make sure that every bit of energy used is not wasted. To have a world class energy efficient home you may need to invest in a number of home improvement projects – however, there are smaller ways to make progress and ultimately improve the energy performance of your property.
We’ve put together four simple ways to cut your energy usage just in time for winter. Which simultaneously reduces your carbon emissions and slashes energy bills. Sounds like a win win situation, right? Well it is – so without further ado here are the top tips from the energy experts at Prior.
- Get a smart meter
The government plans for every home and business to have a smart meter for gas and electricity by 2020 – but why wait until then when you can start reaping the benefits straight away? These little devices will help you keep track of the energy you are using in your home, and as they offer real-time information about energy use, you can make informed decisions about where you can save money – offering long term financial savings.
- Save water
Unless you have a water meter, you probably think that your water usage doesn’t affect your energy bills very much. This is in fact wrong, as almost every time we use water we are also using energy – so this does contribute to our bills. Around 21% of a gas bill from a gas heated home’s bill is attributed to heating the water for baths, showers and hot water from the tap. Therefore, you can save a lot simply by changing your water habits and fitting some humble devices.
For example, fitting a water saving shower head could knock £165 off yearly water and gas bills. Also, making tiny changes such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and replacing baths with showers can make a big difference.
- Draught-proof
If you don’t draught-proof your home at winter, then much of your good work invested elsewhere could be pointless. This is one of the cheapest ways to make your home more energy efficient and save money. You basically need to find tiny gaps in your home and try to cover them up – no hole is too small for a draught!
For example, cover letter boxes with a flap or brush, and cover keyholes with purpose made drop cover. If you have windows that open, then a draught can probably get in. Buy self-adhesive foam strips which you can apply between the window and the frame. A simple draught excluder can also work wonders, as well as shutting all interior doors.
- Lose the dryer
- When it comes to home appliances, you can cut costs on your energy bills just by sacrificing a bit of luxury. A tumble dryer is unnecessary, even in the winter when you can’t always rely on dry weather to line dry clothes. As you’ll be having the central heating on daily, simply use a maiden to hang clothes near a radiator, and the laundry will dry naturally. In terms of other luxury appliances, the dishwasher is one of the most expensive in the whole household. Always make sure it is fully stacked before switching on, and wash up every now and again to keep costs down.
There are our four hacks – do you have any others to add? Let us know on social media.
