AS FUEL bills rise, a housebuilder has offered some tips on how to make homes more energy efficient – and environmentally friendly in the process.
During the pandemic, working from home have meant domestic energy usage has increased and gas prices have more than quadrupled in the space of 12 months from December 2020.
Here are some ideas that could make a difference in the home:
Changing use of water habits
With the increase in people washing hands and sanitising to protect themselves from coronavirus, this leads to a direct increase in water usage, with hot water taking more energy to produce than cold water.
Research has proven that cold water is just as effective as hot water when it comes to killing the virus, so making the switch to cold water where possible will help to keep bills down. Taking showers instead of baths can also make a tremendous difference when reducing how much water is used on a daily basis.
Other methods can also lead to reduced water bills, such as turning the tap off when brushing teeth, only using dishwashers and washing machines when they are full, throwing tissues in the bin rather than flushing them away and collecting rainwater to use to water any houseplants.
Switch-off, don’t stand-by
Many may not realise but leaving electrical items on standby as opposed to turning them off completely can cost homeowners hundreds for items they aren’t even using.
Once the credits roll or the full time whistle blows and it’s time for bed, it may be better to start turning the plug sockets off at the wall instead of just leaving it on standby overnight until the following evening.
The same can be said for any chargers; even if the device is not plugged in to the charger, this will still use a little bit of energy and shorten the lifespan of the charger itself.
The worst offenders of all are games consoles. Due to their built-in automatic standby modes, ‘quick start’ features and constant need to perform updates in the background, they will regularly consume a lot of energy when not being used.
Feeling the heat
It may sound like something a grumpy parent may say, but putting on a jumper or an extra pair of socks instead of turning the heating up can make a huge difference to your monthly bills in the colder months.
This is not flawless – no-one can be expected to keep their heating off all winter on the coldest nights – but there are ways to make the most of the heating.
Ensuring radiators are unobstructed by furniture and bleeding them regularly can help rooms feel warmer at lower temperatures.
Rob Allen, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “It can save residents money, help protect the planet and teach our children about being environmentally friendly.
“With many people continuing to work from home, finding this balance where possible is tougher than ever. New build homes are proven to be more energy efficient than older properties and we are constantly developing innovative and sustainable practices when building our developments.
“Our properties are expertly designed to comply with energy efficiency regulations. They are built with superior insulation, ensuring the heat stays in your home and energy consumption is minimised, meaning modern living and working from home is easy and manageable.”
