At Staywarm Energy, we’re committed to helping you make your home warmer, and your energy bills lower. If you’re looking for energy saving tips on a budget, then look no further! Follow our tips and advice for straightforward ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
1. Curtains
If you have curtains, the time you open and close them can make a huge difference to how warm your house is. Leave the curtains open in hours of daylight to make the most of warmth from the sun – it’s one of our favourite energy saving tips! Even on cloudy days, the sun’s energy can warm your home… especially through insulated double glazed windows. Equally, when the sun goes down, the temperature drops considerably, so closing your curtains at dusk, and keeping them closed throughout the night-time can add an extra layer of draught-proofing. If privacy is an issue, you could think about having some inexpensive sheer curtains for the daytime, and thicker ones to close after sunset.
2. Rugs and Throws
Did you know your home can be losing 15% of your home’s heat through the floor? A rug can make a big difference! Layering 2 or 3 rugs like in the photo above can trap warm air between the layers and act like floor insulation. Similarly, having multiple thinner throws or blankets rather than one thick one can keep you even more cosy.
3. Draughty Doors
If your door is over 10 years old, or doesn’t fit the frame exactly, you may experience draughts and heat loss through your external doors. A simple draught excluder along the threshold is an excellent traditional way to keep more heat inside your home. Don’t forget the letterbox! If your letterbox is loose, old or not sealed into the door, it can let a lot of valuable heat escape. You can buy letterbox covers from most home stores, or use a rolled-up tea towel on particularly blustery days.
4. Insulate your Hot Water Tank
When we talk about insulating homes, we usually mean loft, wall or underfloor insulation, but your hot water tank or cylinder needs insulating too. Even if your tank/cylinder is in an airing cupboard, cold air around the tank can mean that you are constantly using energy to keep the water in the tank up to temperature. Even if you already have thin spray foam or a loose 25mm jacket, you can benefit from increasing the insulation to a British Standard Jacket (80mm thick).
5. Maximise Your Radiators
In the UK, most radiators in homes are placed under windows or against walls, and unfortunately this means that a lot of the heat from the radiator is lost through the wall or window. A simple energy saving tip is to place strips of aluminium foil behind the radiator – shiny side facing into the room. This way, the heat from the radiator hits the foil before it hits the wall, and is reflected back into your room.
6. Energy Efficient Home Improvements
To make the biggest difference to your carbon footprint and energy savings, it’s important to make sure your home is fully insulated. Check out our previous post about making energy efficient home improvements, including upgrading your windows and doors to high-performance thermally insulated units.
Helpful websites for energy saving tips:
- The Energy Saving Trust – https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/
- Which? Advice – www.which.co.uk
- Age UK Warm Homes Advice – https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/warm-homes/