Living in London - Ensuring Your Home Is Energy Efficient
There is a going trend to make your property in London as energy efficient as possible, and with most housing in London being built before many regulations came into place, it can be quite hard.
Most of this housing lacks essential energy-efficient and eco-friendly elements; inefficient heating and cooling systems, poor insulation, and non-energy-efficient appliances, just to name a few. With such circumstances, energy costs could cause a dent in your personal finance, among other inconveniences.
Good news is, there are adjustments and home improvement strategies that have been proven to have a significant impact on your home energy efficiency. These strategies not only make your home energy efficient but are very cost-effective in the long run. We’ve prepared a list of five such simple and effective ideas for you.
Get Yourself an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Getting a domestic EPC for your property is one of the most important strategies to ensure your home is energy efficient. The UK government requires every domestic property built, sold, or let out to rent, to have an EPC from an approved domestic energy assessor, like from our EPC London team. The assessor will survey your home appliances, ventilation, and lighting systems, among other accessories and give a report about the same.
This certificate will act as proof that your house is energy efficient. And if not, the necessary adjustments will be recommended by the assessing expert. So, all you’ll have to do is make arrangements to ensure the recommendations are adhered to. It’s as simple as that!
Use a Programmable Thermostat
While away from home, ensure to lower your thermostat temperature by about 10-15 degrees. This way, you’ll use much less energy and your monthly energy bill will reduce significantly.
Installing a smart/programmable thermostat can be the best way to add brains to your house and the HVAC system. These devices allow you to adjust the temperature remotely using your mobile phone. They’ll also predict your schedule over time and use it to adjust the heating. But still, you can program your thermostat to reduce the temperature when you’re off for work.
Some smart thermostats have motion sensors that can detect your presence and adjust the heating temperature accordingly. So you won’t have to worry while away attending to your daily duties.
Seal All Air Leaks
Uninsulated or poorly insulated homes are more likely to have air leaks that could translate to significant energy wastage. Uninsulated lofts are one of the biggest contributors to air leaks and heating losses.
How will you know if your windows or doors have leaks (especially those that are hardly noticeable)? It’s simple, light up a candle and carry it close to the windows, doors, and drywall. And if you notice any flickering, it’s a sign there’s a leak around that area. You can then add a sheet of shrink film and weatherstripping around the window frames, a bead of silicone caulk over the drywalls, and stick-on insulation for the sides of your drafty doors.
Sealing these leaks will not only make your home energy efficient but will also make it warmer, ideal for the winter. When insulating the loft and sealing leaks, however, ensure to maintain sufficient ventilation to prevent damp and moulds which could cause different health conditions.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Products
Perhaps you’re using appliances like TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, washers, and stoves, among other appliances in your home. However, not just any home appliance is okay to buy and use. For instance, Energy Star Products have been approved by the EPA, having met the minimum energy-efficient specifications.
These products can use up to 50% less energy, as compared to the standard appliances. Plus, Energy-efficient appliances have been tested and proven to help reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Therefore, consider purchasing Energy Star-certified appliances when replacing your appliances.
Invest in Solar Panels
Solar panels are an effective investment that you can consider for your home improvement as far as energy efficiency is concerned, especially if you have a south-facing roof. Solar panels can help you save money on your bills by providing you with your own heat or power. These panels can even work when it’s cloudy, so you won’t have to worry about the winter season. They also promote lower fossil fuel usage, and you’ll be in a better position to qualify for annual tax incentives.
Though the scheme for selling your excess electricity to the National Grid was closed for new applicants, you can still benefit through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme set to begin this coming January, 2020.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, your property is already as green as it can be, but if not, then an energy performance certificate can make your dreams of an energy-efficient home come true.
