Updating your home is a great way to improve your living space and create a functional and comfortable environment. As you make changes to your home, it’s important to focus on future-proof strategies that will lower your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and nurture a space you can enjoy for the long term.
In this guide, we will share our top tips for transforming your home so you can create a unique and beautiful space that is environmentally conscious and reduces your household bills.
Let’s make your home fit for the future.
Traditional Renovation vs. Energy-efficient Renovation?
Energy-efficient renovation stands apart from general renovation because it focuses on making changes and updates to your property that benefit you and your family for the long term. Whereas, regular home renovation just looks at how your home can be practically renovated to improve the space (without any real thought given to environmentally conscious upgrades).
Rather than simply focusing on making repairs, converting your space, or modernising the building, having an energy-efficient focus means looking at how you can reduce the energy consumption of your home so that you can lower your energy bills.
As a homeowner, there is no shortage of household bills and expenses. According to data shared by the Office for National Statistics, “of the 49% of adults who reported that their cost of living has increased over the last month, 81% cited rising gas or electricity bills as a reason for this.” With this in mind, it makes sense to invest in a more energy-efficient home. If this isn’t something you have thought of before, now’s the time to start.
How to Save Energy at Home: Our Top 4 Tips
If you’re looking for tips that support energy saving at home, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few ways you can update your property while lowering your energy costs simultaneously.
- Replace Old Draughty Windows
Did you know that up to 30% of the heat loss in your home escapes through the windows? If your windows are poorly fitted, single-glazed, or old, this percentage can increase. To transform your home and save money on your energy bills, you should start by replacing the windows.
Replacing your old, single-glazed windows with double or triple-glazed alternatives is an excellent solution. Not only will you enjoy more comfortable temperatures but you will improve your home security and have the benefit of better sound insulation. If you want to go the extra mile, you could invest in window shutters to keep temperatures warmer during the winter months and improve your home’s aesthetic.
- Insulate Your Roof
Whether you have a tiled or a metal roof, if it’s not properly looked after, your roof will leak energy from your home. In fact, a quarter of heat is lost through an uninsulated roof. The best solution to this problem is to insulate your roof. While it won’t outrightly improve the aesthetic of your property, it will make your home more energy efficient, which will significantly reduce your energy bills and benefit your comfort for the long term.
Another benefit of insulating your roof is that it helps protect against damp, mould, and condensation – problems that can cause long-term damage to the structure of your home and the longevity of your belongings. While a roof renovation can feel like a big initial investment, its long-term benefits definitely outweigh the upfront cost.
- Update Your Heating System
Modernised heating systems are more energy efficient than old or outdated solutions. This means you can receive the same amount of heat into your home while using less fuel to do so. If you want to know how to save money on your electrical bill, there are numerous great heating solutions available. Some of the most popular include:
Heat Pumps: a heat pump typically uses energy from outside, heats it up, and feeds this heat into your home. Heat pumps are suitable for most property types and are a great alternative to traditional gas or oil boilers, saving you money on your energy bills and lowering your carbon emissions.
Modern Boilers: if your boiler is older than 10 years or it’s been making a few worrying sounds, it’s probably time for a replacement. Heating and hot water are two of the biggest costs to homeowners in the UK and fitting a modern boiler is a great way to save money. As an added benefit, many modern boilers are built to be more compact, allowing them to be hidden away in cupboards so they don’t intrude on your home aesthetic.
Solar Water Heating: if you’re looking to replace your gas or oil-fired heating system, solar water heating solutions are a great option. They work by taking energy from the sun to heat and store water before feeding it into your home. Because the UK isn’t well-known for enjoying particularly sunny days, a solar water heating system won’t provide 100% of the hot water you need all year round, but it will significantly contribute and save you money in the process.
- Upcycle Secondhand Furniture
Home renovation can be expensive. Certainly, furnishing your home can make a dent in your finances. It’s important to maintain a sustainable mindset that supports the long-term energy efficiency and comfort of your home. Upcycling furniture is a great way to achieve this as it deals with two goals simultaneously; it improves your home’s interior and reduces your carbon footprint.
Upcycling furniture falls under the umbrella of ‘sustainable home renovation’. It means sourcing secondhand furniture and decor items that can be repaired, restored, or given a second chance at life. Whether you’re hoping to eliminate waste or you just want to find pre-loved pieces of furniture, upcycling is a great place to start.
There are so many ways to upcycle furniture and use second hand pieces to upgrade your home. It’s good for your finances, it’s good for the environment, and it’s a good way to improve your home’s interior to create an aesthetically pleasing space.
Start Saving Energy at Home Today
As you can see, there are many ways to save energy at home and transform your space at the same time. We’ve focused on the things that will have the biggest impact on future-proofing your home and creating a comfortable environment for the long-term. We hope you will take onboard the things we’ve shared so that you can make some thoughtful changes to your home moving forward.
Cover image: photo via Canva PRO
