Saving energy isn't just about making small changes to reduce your energy bills. Bigger changes to your home could help you use or waste less energy and save you money in the long run.
Insulate your home from top to bottom
Upgrading windows and doors could improve your home's energy efficiency and help reduce noise too.
Energy-efficient glazing covers both double and triple glazing, but you could also look at secondary glazing or thicker curtains to help prevent heat escaping from older windows.
Heat escaping through cracks, gaps and holes in your windows, doors or even a chimney could be cooling your home while you’re also spending money to heat it up.
Simple DIY measures, like applying sealant round old window frames or doors could help reduce draughts. Or you could get the help of a professional and benefit from their draught-proofing know-how.
Install or improve roof and loft insulation - you can lose quarter of your heat in your heat through a poorly insulated home (source: Energy Saving Trust) so it’s a great way to reduce heat loss and save on your energy bills. Try and install loft insulation that's at least 270mm thick.
Check your cavity wall insulation - about a third of all the heat lost in a poorly insulated home escapes through the walls (source: Energy Saving Trust). So, whether your home has cavity or solid walls, insulating them can improve your energy efficiency and you might qualify for help with the costs of installation.
Consider floor insulation - whether you have a concrete floor or a timber one, insulating your ground floor or any floors above cold spaces like a garage is another option to help prevent heat loss.
Heating and hot water account for the lion’s share of energy use in a typical home – so make sure your boiler is as efficient as possible. Water tanks and pipes can also lose heat quickly, so insulating them will help keep them hotter for longer and improve the efficiency of your heating.
Replacing your boiler with an energy-efficent one can be an expensive option, but the longer-term benefit could mean cutting your energy bills. The most efficient type of gas boiler is a condensing boiler, which is able to retain and recover more of the heat it uses.
However, fossil fuel heating systems are likely to be phased out over time as part of the Government’s plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. So, if you have the budget and space, it might be an option to consider a heat pump instead.
Solar electricity panels or photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity to use in your home. Installing solar panels on a south or west facing roof could help you generate a lot of the electricity your home needs.
Solar PV panels are considered ‘permitted developments’ and often don’t need planning permission. However, there are exceptions so it’s best to check with your local planning office before you get started.
You must also register your solar energy panels with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO), but this is usually done by your installer.
If you are, you could be eligible for our Green Mortgage which rewards you for buying an energy efficient home.
Shostra Bank Green Mortgages are available to over 18s purchasing or remortgaging a home with a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B. Product fees may apply. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
