Many of us will be looking to save money on our household bills this winter. Energy consumption in our homes reportedly increases by 36% in the winter months compared to the summer. And in a year where more people than ever have been working from home (opens in new tab), it seems likely that winter energy usage will be even greater than usual.
Whilst having the heating on for longer might keep us cosy in cold weather, it’s certainly not so kind to our environment. But how can we balance saving money (opens in new tab)and making our homes that bit more eco-friendly (opens in new tab)?
After doing some investigating, MyJobQuote.co.uk (opens in new tab) might just have the answer we’re looking for.
Here are their top 10 ways to save money and stay as green as possible this winter.
1. Fit more insulation
They suggest you could be saving £260 a year by topping up internal wall insulation on the average semi-detached home.Topping up your loft or roof insulation is the easiest way to go greener in winter.
It can help with significantly reducing your heating bills. Some people may even find that they have little to no insulation at all. So be sure to have this checked out by a specialist to ensure you stay warm as the weather gets colder.
2. Double Glazing
According to MyJobQuote.co.uk, on average about 35% of heat is lost through walls and windows. Adding effective double glazing to your windows will help reduce the cost of heating your home and help prevent any frosted window sills. Frost may be beautiful on a lawn - less so around our home!
3. Fix leaking taps
The majority of people will have had a leaking tap in our homes at one time or another. But an astonishing 5,500 litres of water could be wasted every year if a leaking tap is left unresolved.
Fixing any leaking or hard to use taps should be a priority this winter and it’s usually pretty easy to do. Not only will you save money on your water bills, but you’ll be doing your bit to reduce water waste too.
4. Switch to greener energy suppliers
Many energy suppliers can now offer their customers energy from renewable sources. E.ON Energy now offers 100% renewable energy from UK wind generated and after you sign up, if you successfully refer your friend, you could even each receive a £40 eGift voucher.
5. Install Solar Panels
Whilst it may seem like the sun rarely shines in the UK throughout the winter, it might still be worth installing some solar panels. In London you could save an average of £100-£240 per year after the installation of solar panels.
The average Brit spends roughly £6,000 for solar panel installation and though this is a sizeable upfront cost, you can receive significant savings on your bills over time.
6. Smart Heating Solutions
Smart heating solutions are a brilliant way to reduce costs (opens in new tab). They allow you the ability to avoid heating your whole house unnecessarily, with options to control each room’s temperature separately and even change the temperature when you’re not at home.
7. Underfloor Heating
If you decide to install underfloor heating in your home (opens in new tab), it could help reduce energy usage by 15-40% less than traditional radiators as it doesn’t heat the whole room from the floor upwards.
You can also use underfloor heating at a lower temperature and for less time which will also help you save on your household bills.
8. Turn Down the Thermostat
It’s all too easy to keep your thermostat high when the weather gets colder, but if you don’t have smart heating, MyJobQuote.co.uk advises turning down your thermostat by a couple of degrees and putting on a jumper instead.
21°C is the ideal temperature for us to be comfortable. Checking this temperature and reducing the amount of energy used will save money and help to protect the planet at the same time.
9. Choose the Shower Over the Bath
We all love a hot bath on a cold winter’s evening, but it’s not the most eco-friendly option. Taking a shower instead will use less water and power than a bath. A Low Flow shower head uses even less water than traditional shower heads and is another great option.
10. Install a Low-Flow Toilet
Older toilets use quite a lot of water with each flush, but by upgrading your toilet to a low-flow toilet, you could reduce your daily water usage. This is a great step in the right direction!
Will you be trying any of these tips this winter?
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