3 Easy Ways to Lower Your Household Bills This Winter
Energy bills are climbing, which is putting pressure on household budgets across the country. The UK’s regulator, Ofgem, recently announced that the price cap for energy would be relaxed in January – which is sure to make things more difficult at what is, for many, a financially tricky time of year. The cap will sit at £1,717 until March.
Fortunately, there are ways for homeowners to tackle this problem by investing a relatively small amount upfront. In many cases, gains can be made by spending just a little bit extra.
Improve Your Home’s Insulation
Loft spaces should be covered with mineral wool, or some similar product. The Energy Savings Trust recommends around 270mm of wool, which can prevent heat loss and lower bills. Double-glazed windows and doors can also be extremely useful. You might also look at weatherstripping solutions and draft excluders, which can be a great match for older doors and windows that are letting cold air in. An investment of just a few pounds can make a big difference, in some cases.
Upgrade to an Energy-Efficient Heating System
Older heating systems can be significantly less efficient than modern ones. The larger the system, the bigger the potential gains might be. You might look to replace a traditional system of separate boilers and storage tanks with a modern combi boiler, which will provide instant hot water. Combi boilers are a natural fit for smaller properties, thanks to their smaller size, but they work in larger ones, too.
Adjust Your Daily Habits to Save Energy
You can also save energy by adopting the right habits. The most obvious of these might be simply dialling down the thermostat and wearing an extra layer. If you’re working from home, then a set of fingerless gloves might be an excellent investment.
Modern thermostats also come with smart controls, which can be used to dial in a heating schedule that’s perfect for your schedule. This will allow you to avoid heating your home when you aren’t actually in it.
Lighting is nowhere near as expensive as heating, especially if you’ve upgraded to LED lights throughout the home. Nevertheless, it’s often a good idea to switch off the bulbs you aren’t using – or to use smart controls to program in an automatic schedule. Switching off hungry appliances, like amplifiers and televisions, is also a good idea.