We all like to keep warm in our homes while the weather does its worst outside, but we are being made more and more aware that while we are keeping warm inside we are damaging the environment outside.
In this day and age there are lots of environmentally friendly products and sustainable heat sources, solar power, wind power etc. Whilst we all know that these are fantastic was to help reduce the damage we are doing environmentally, not everyone wants to install solar panels or change boilers in fact any extra expense.
There is a way that everyone can help reduce the impact on the environment whilst still keeping warm. And the best part of all is that the more you do to make your home energy efficient the less your heating bills will be. Therefore helping to save the environment helps to save you money.
Small changes in your home can have a big impact. Turning down room thermostats, not leaving appliances on standby and just simply closing doors all makes a huge difference.
Doors and windows can loose up to 60% of household heat. Tuck your curtains behind your radiator to make the heat stay in the room rather than straight out the window. As mentioned earlier, keep doors closed. Many doors will have a gap at the bottom, heat can pour out through the gap and drafts push into the room. If you do not have a draft excluder then rolled up towels will do just as well.
Starting from the top of the house the biggest difference can be made by insulating your loft. One of the most important things you can do to save energy in your home is to install or improve your insulation which keeps the heat inside your home.
The recommended level of insulation in the loft is 270mm and this could save you over 100 on heating costs and about one tonne of co2 (carbon dioxide). There are two traditional types of loft insulation; loose fill or fibreglass and mineral fibre on a roll.
Change to low-energy light bulbs. These are now much cheaper to purchase than they used to be and whilst they will help to save on your energy bills they will also last far longer than a conventional bulb. They are now even available for different socket types and in a range of styles. Why not replace them one by one to make the change less of an expense. Remember to turn the lights off when you leave the room.
If you have a hot water cylinder, make sure it has a cylinder jacket and that this is fitted properly. This could save over 70% of the heat lost. There really is no need to have this cylinder kept full of hot water all day set the timer for when the hot water will be needed. Reducing the water temperature is another simple change you could make.
Insulating accessible and exposed hot water pipes will help towards keeping bills down.
Think about when you need the central heating on set a timer accordingly.
Thermostatic radiator valves can be fitted to a radiator and these actually turn the radiator off when the room reaches a desired and preset temperature. These are fantastic for rooms that tend to overheat whilst the rest of the house is cooler.
There may be rooms in your house that do not need to he heated turn the radiators off.
There are now many energy efficient central heating boilers available. If you do not want to replace your boiler you could clean the system. Keeping your existing heating system running efficiently will also help to save on your bills. Make sure you understand your system and treat it accordingly. If you are unsure seek professional help.
Underfloor heating is about 30% cheaper to run than traditional central heating, and whilst this may not be an option for your whole house is may be an idea for your kitchen or an added luxury in your bathroom.
If you have a chimney in your home a small door (register plate) can be fitted to close the chimney when the fire is not in use.
Making sure your home is energy efficient is not something to be taken lightly. The cost of heating our homes is spiralling. By being energy efficient is very good for the environment but it is also good for you by keeping the cost of heating you home to a minimum.
Why not visit UK Plumbing Ltd http://www.uk-plumbing.com/ for all your plumbing and heating supplies. UK Plumbing Ltd is an established internet plumbing and heating supplier offering prompt and friendly service. Buy securely online.
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 View other articles written by Claire Hamill(77)
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