As winter rears its icy head, you are already wrapped up in warm clothing to conserve body heat. But what about your home? Is your boiler gas or oil-powered? What can you do to save energy in your home during the winter months? If these are questions you have considered this winter, here are a few vital points to consider.
Consider smart lighting
If you have a habit of leaving lights on, you may be running up your energy bills. According to Utility Design research, the UK loses a whopping £4.4 billion annually by leaving lights on! That is an excessive loss to the nation! Next-generation lighting will think for you as it allows you to set schedules to automate and regulate light usage. This is an effective way to save on energy.
Identify and deal with draughts
Cold air seeps indoors when there are cracks or gaps in windows, doors, or even the floor. However, by installing draught excluders, you insulate your home by closing up spaces responsible for heat loss. By extension, you would have saved the rate at which your heating systems would work to maintain indoor warmth. If you are on a budget, rolled-up blankets, old newspapers, and silicone-based sealants can serve the purpose too. As a caution, never seal up air vents as that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Wash clothes at 30°C
Unless you are a hospital worker who needs to machine-wash clothes at a higher temperature, you will save more energy doing yours at 30ºC or even lower. Avoid tossing in minimum amounts of items, as this will only increase your bills. It helps keep your dirty stuff in a separate basket until it’s full enough to be taken at one go in the machine. Doing your laundry at full load is efficient as it helps to conserve water and electricity.
