In the current economy and with the days and nights getting increasingly colder it is more important than ever that we try to make our homes as energy efficient as possible.
At Lincolnshire Radiators Direct they have a large, hand-picked range of quality designer radiators with 15-year guarantees and free shipping, they offer value for money, but also want to offer value in other ways, that’s why they’re providing this helpful blog to give you some guidance this winter.
Ways to help you be more energy efficient
- Set your thermostat to around 18 degrees, this means whenever your house temperature drops below this your heating will kick in. This costs a lot less than if you keep turning your heating on and off and the system has to heat up from the start again.
- Bleed your radiators, this will help your home to feel warmer and make your heating system more efficient as you’ve removed air pockets. As well as reducing the pressure in your system meaning you won’t have to turn your heating up as often.
- Make sure your home is well insulated. This may mean an initial pay-out but with 35% of heat being lost through walls the investment will eventually pay for itself. Look into loft insulation, double glazing, cavity walls, and hot water tank jackets.
- It can be hard in smaller or awkwardly designed rooms to not block radiators with bulky furniture that stops heat from spreading across the room but where possible avoid blocking radiators and heaters.
- Instead focus on blocking drafts, buy draft excluders for your doors, or door curtains that keep the cool air out.
- LED energy-saving light bulbs last longer and use less energy, saving you money on your energy bill and meaning you won’t have to add bulbs to your shopping list as often.
- Draught-proofing your home can be a long process but thermal curtains are a great start, they help to block drafts and keep the heat in. Whilst it may be tempting to keep curtains open to make the most of the little daylight we still get and to show off pretty Christmas lights, keeping them shut when you’re out could help conserve heat in your home.
- Don’t rush out and buy all new kitchen appliances if there is nothing wrong with your current appliances as this would be wasteful. However, when it is time to buy a new fridge, washing machine or dishwasher opt for an energy-efficient one by keeping an eye out for the ‘energy saving recommended’ sticker.
- If you’re not using a room, turn the lights off. This links well with turning off your TV and PC rather than leaving them on standby, this will reduce your electricity bill as well as avoid the emission of CO2.
- Wait until you have a full load to put your dishwasher or washing machine on, this saves doing multiple washes that could have been done all at once.
- Keep an eye on your weather app to see when there is a dry day to get your washing done, this could help you avoid using your tumble dryer more than necessary as whilst they’re very useful they’re also a big consumer of energy.
- This seems small, but it all adds up. Don’t overfill your kettle, if you’re just making a drink for yourself, fill the kettle to the minimum line to avoid it boiling for longer than necessary.
- Invest in a heated towel radiator, this way you can heat your bathroom whilst helping to dry damp towels between showers, avoiding the use of the tumble dryer or getting a fresh towel after one use and creating more washing.
- If you thought you were going to have to give up your beloved Christmas lights this year, think again, energy efficient Christmas lights are low-cost to run for the short festive period so enjoy yourself, but make sure to turn them off when you’re out to reduce energy use and avoid fires.
- If you’re not using a room, such as your spare bedroom, turn the radiator down in that room, keeping it on low to avoid dampness in the cold months. A great way of doing this is installing thermostatic radiator valves onto your radiators to control the flow of water into individual radiators which allows you to control the maximum temperature in each room.
- Install solar panels; this is an expensive initial investment, but renewable energy is the cleanest form of energy and solar panels pay for themselves after around 10 years. If you plan to live in your home long-term they can be a fantastic investment.
Hopefully these sixteen tips will help you be more energy efficient, reduce your carbon footprint and save you money this winter. Whilst there is no set rule it is recommended to change your radiators every 15-20 years, old central heating systems and radiators are known to be less energy efficient.
You can shop the range of quality designer radiators here, they stock column radiators, vertical radiators and so much more. For more information don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01522 620190.