Saving Money and The Planet – Make Simple Changes

One of the biggest concerns for homeowners during the winter months is keeping their home warm and comfortable, without incurring huge energy bills! With the price of gas and electricity constantly being worthy of news attention, it’s easy to see why this is such a big worry, but with a few simple changes it’s easy to improve the energy efficiency of your home, without breaking the bank. Draught Proofing: The first thing you should look into is draught proofing. Gaps around window frames can let in a huge amount of cold air and allow your valuable heat to escape, but it’s easy enough to remedy. Decorators caulk is one of the best kept secrets of the trade and is a simple acrylic filler that remains flexible once dried. It’s easily applied into gaps or cracks between the plaster and the window frame to provide a smooth, sealed edge that will keep out draughts. Other places to check include around skirting boards, door frames, loft hatches and staircases. You could also invest in door seals, that are attached the door between the door and frame or floor, to stop heat loss through the gaps that can’t be sealed up permanently. You’ll be surprised at how much difference this makes, and you’ll notice that your rooms heat up much quicker and stay warmer for longer – allowing you to turn your heating down or even off earlier. Roof Insulation: We all know that heat rises, so it makes sense to keep the heat in by insulating your roof or attic space. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it can even be carried out as a DIY task once you have the materials. The average cost is around £250 and can save you up to £180 a year in energy bills – so your insulation should pay for itself in around 2 years, leaving you to enjoy reduced bills and a cosier home for years to come! Tank Insulation: One of the simplest things you can invest in for the winter is a hot water tank ‘jacket’. This is a simple piece of insulating material used to wrap your hot water tank, to keep it cosy. It may seem like a strange idea if you haven’t heard of it before, but it will ensure your hot water gets hotter, quicker and stays hot for longer, so your central heating system won’t have to work as hard to reach the right temperature! You can buy these effective jackets from most home improvement shops quite cheaply, and they are easy to fit, even if you’re not a DIY guru! Double Glazing: If you have a little more to invest in your home, one of the best ways to reduce heat loss from your property is by having new double glazing installed. The extra cost, brings with it a whole host of benefits that will not just make your home warmer, but also much more energy efficient. It will also provide noise insulation and UPVC double glazing is almost maintenance free, as well as being available in a range of designs and styles to suit your home. The team at Victory Windows International can assess your current windows and doors and let you know how much money you could save by upgrading to energy efficient double glazing. As a rough guide, the Energy Saving Trust estimate that by replacing all single-glazed windows in a standard home, with quality double glazing, you could save around £170 a year on heating bills! Close the curtains: Lots of soft fabrics in your home can not only give the illusion of warmth and comfort, but actually help to retain heat. A set of thick heavy curtains will trap cold air that has come in through the windows, and closing them earlier in the evenings will stop the cold weather creeping in. You even buy special thermal curtains that are sure to achieve the required heat retention. You could also try draught excluders on doors that aren’t used regularly, and placing cosy blankets on the sofas so you can wrap up warm in the evenings. Another tip is investing in a thicker, winter quilt so you can turn the radiators in your bedroom down a little bit, saving even more energy.

For more information on Saving Money and The Planet – Make Simple Changes talk to Victory Windows International Ltd