We are living through tough times, and every amount we can save will take us far. For this reason, we decided to create a short document describing five easy methods in which one can save energy at home by investing in low-cost kits. You could also speak to a professional property expert such as Fourwalls for more ways to save money around the house. These low energy kits can be found in any hardware store (either online or offline) and cost about £20.
• The Benefits Of Shower heads
A majority of people believe that taking a shower is more efficient (in terms of water usage and heating energy) than taking a bath. However, this is far from the actual truth. For example, High-Volume Power showers use up more water than an average bathtub. This is why it is paramount to consider investing in water-saving shower heads. Here’s more reason why: electric shower heads are designed to only heat the water you need rather than a large volume like in the case of a hot water tank.
Research shows that fitting water-saving shower heads can help you save as much as £115 on water bills and £70 on gas every year.
• Low-Voltage LED Light Bulbs
One of the best ways to save money on energy is by investing in low voltage LED bulbs. These bulbs can be found in different wattage ratings, designs, and models in all local supermarkets. The LED technology has advanced greatly over the years, and now they are bright like a regular bulb. Furthermore, LEDs do not require a lot of voltage to light. What does this mean? Well, unlike the standard bulbs, which need a minimum of 150V of Alternating Current (AC), LEDs only require 12V of Direct Current (DC) to produce the same brightness. Clearly, it does not take a genius to know that 150V is too high compared to 12V.
If you calculate, LEDs use about 92% less energy compared to halogen bulbs. Furthermore, they last 50 times longer than halogen bulbs. Per year, you could be saving more than £35 on energy (depending on usage).
• Change Regular Extension Cables To Smart Power Strips
We all use power extension cables in our homes. These devices make our lives easier by allowing us to use multiple devices at once through a single wall socket. Therefore, rather than buying regular extension cables, consider buying ‘Smart Power Strips’, which in fact, looks very similar to a regular power extension, but comes with additional features that allow uses to turn all standby devices off in one go. Consider investing in one with a timer, which will switch itself off after a particular time (more especially, when you go to bed).
These devices will set you back about £15 for a basic model but save you more per year on electric bills. Remember, any device connected to power is still consuming power even after you switch the device off.
• Seal Spaces Around The Windows And Doors
If you are living in older properties, then chances are you may be experiencing draughts. Newly built homes often are draught proofed because of current building standards, codes, and trends. Whenever there is a draught in a home, that home is losing heat, which is a loss of energy, and hence loss of money. To counteract this problem, you should seal all gaps within a property including, the spaces found around the doors, windows, and even chimney.
To do this, you may decide to go the expensive way of hiring a professional to help you eliminate the draught or consider using self-adhesive foam, metal, or plastic strips (with or without brushes), or silicone sealant.
• Attic And Eaves Insulation
Just as it would benefit you to seal off spaces around the doors and windows, you should not forget sealing the attic and eaves. In fact, it would be wise to start with the loft hatch. The best thing is that low-cost strip insulation would do the trick. These products can be found in your local store. Also, do not forget to insulate the loft, flat roof, or attic. Insulation is not only effective and a simple way to save money, but they last for long (for 40 years.)
The good news is that sealing off gaps within your property can be done as a DIY project, which will be much more cost-effective than calling a professional. By doing this, you can save up to £250 every year.