Being eco-friendly is a great way to ease your conscience and soothe your money worries because saving the planet and saving your pennies tend to go hand in hand. Some of the things you can do are incredibly simple while others take a little extra effort, but in the long term anything you can do to reduce your environmental impact is worthwhile.
Here are five ways in which you can make your home a greener place to live.
Around 25 per cent of a household’s heat is lost through the roof of a property and more escapes through the walls. Insulation is not very expensive to implement, especially in houses with cavity walls. At most, it will cost you a couple of hundred pounds for both wall and ceiling insulation, but there are often grants available that mean it can sometimes be completed for free. By insulating your walls you could save up to 135 a year on energy bills and another 175 by insulating your loft. Even if you do have to cough up the cash, in one year your insulation could pay for itself.
Upgrade Your Boiler
Your boiler is responsible for around 60 per cent of your household’s entire energy costs so upgrading it may save you a great deal of cash. Boilers are graded A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least. Replacing a G-rated boiler with a new, efficient A-rated model could save you 300 a year. Obviously, it might not be cost-effective to simply ditch your old boiler, but when it reaches its 10th anniversary or the end of its life span, replacing it might be money better spent than repeatedly fixing it. Plus, it is a lot better for the planet.
Thermostats and HVAC Controls
By investing in a modern programmable thermostat you can ensure your HVAC systems only operate when the temperature drops in winter or increases in summer. By programming your thermostat to fit around your life, you’ll never pointlessly heat your home when you’re not there and you can set it for different schedules on weekdays and weekends. Programmable thermostats are a relatively cheap investment that can immediately save you money on your energy bill.
Draught-Proof Your Windows
Windows should be double- or even triple-glazed to ensure as much heat as possible stays in the home. If you notice a breeze entering through a window or door, you can always invest in some DIY draught-proofing equipment to help seal any gaps. You can purchase foam strips from most DIY stores which fill any gaps between the frame and the window, allowing you to turn down the heat inside the house. This is a relatively cheap job, but one which will help you to save cash as temperatures start to plummet.
Turn Off Appliances
Leaving your appliances on standby wastes more energy than you might realise. According to research, a household wastes around 35 a year by leaving products running when they’re not in use, so spend a little time turning off any appliances, such as TVs, computers and games consoles, that don’t need to be left on standby. You can now even invest in products that automatically turn themselves off when they’re not in use.