Sustainable Living – Save Money On Your Energy Bills
The most crucial step in staying on top of your family’s money is to create a healthy budget. You need to eliminate all needless spending, such as reducing excursions to the coffee shop or takeaway food that you do not really need.
Hopefully, this will free up a significant amount of extra cash, allowing you to pay all of your bills and expenses while still having money left over for some fun family activities.
But what if you have already adhered to a budget and are still having trouble saving, or even making ends meet? If this is the case, you must also find a means to cut your necessary spending.
Further Reading: 20 Simple Life Changes to Help You with Sustainable Living
Photo by Alessandro Bianchi
One of the greatest areas to start is with your energy costs, which account for a significant portion of your budget and for which many people pay far more than they need to.
The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to significantly reduce your energy expenses and save money. If you are tired of paying exorbitant energy bills, here is how to lower them with our short guide on how to ‘save money on your energy bills’.
How To Save Money On Your Energy Bills
1 – Reassess How You Use Energy
The first step is to change your own energy consumption patterns. You are squandering a lot of energy if you are continuously leaving lights on, putting items on standby, and turning the thermostat up. This equates to a high bill at the end of the month.
However, if you become more conscious of your energy consumption and begin to adjust your behaviours, you will see a significant reduction in your expenses. You should also be aware of some of the hidden costs that significantly boost your energy expenditures.
Photo by Mason Summers
Appliances that are inefficient, for example, consume far more energy than they should. If you can make a few easy modifications to your routines, you can save a lot of money on energy.
2 – Switch Your Energy Provider
The way you use energy is significant, but it is possible that the issue is with your energy supplier and not with you. Many of the suppliers have significant price differences, so it’s possible that you are receiving a lousy bargain from yours. You may save a lot of money if you take the time to search around for a better bargain and compare energy plans. Deals change frequently, so do not stick with just one provider. Because loyalty is not rewarded, always examine the prices and switch if it is a better deal.
3 – Make Sure That Your Home Is Well Insulated
If your house is not well insulated, it loses a lot of heat, so you will have to keep the heat on more often and for longer to be comfortable. As a result, your energy bills are likely to soar during the winter – they are quite literally, going through the roof.
In certain circumstances, simply adding roof insulation will suffice to reduce your energy expenditures. This is a great bet because it’s a manageable expense and simple to set up. If it doesn’t work, you might have a problem with the absence of insulation in the house’s walls. That will be more costly and time-consuming to repair, but if you are ready to invest now, you will save a lot of money on your energy costs in the long run.
Here are 5 home upgrades you should consider:
1 – Wall Insulation
If you live in a detached house, you’ll likely be losing a lot of heat through the walls on each side. If you’re considering wall insulation, you’ll need to check what types of wall you have first.
Homes that are over 100 years old will usually have solid walls made from brick or stone, meaning you’ll need either internal or external solid wall insulation.
Cavity walls are typically found in homes built after 1920. These are comprised of two walls with an air gap in between, so insulation will need be installed inside these cavities.
Photo by charlesdeluvio
2 – Floor Insulation
Ground floors can lose up to 15% of heat on a daily basis. Similarly to walls, you’ll need to check what type of flooring you have in order to install the correct insulation.
Floorboards can be insulated using rigid boards, mineral wool or spray foam insulation. Solid floors will need a layer of rigid insulation laid on top to stop heat loss.
3 – Draught Proofing
Draughts in the home will certainly contribute to heat and energy loss, and draught proofing could save you around £60 a year.
For windows, you can purchase draught-proofing strips which fill the gap between the window and the frame.
For external doors, you can install a door brush at the bottom of the frame. Simply hold the brush up to the base of the door and mark where the holes will go, using a drill to install the fixture.
4 – Roof and Loft Insulation
Larger houses tend to lose a lot of heat through their roof. The majority of roofs can be insulated – pitch roofs can be insulated with rigid boards, insulation rolls and spray foam. Or, warm decks, cold decks or an inverted roof are used to insulate flat roofs.
5 – Upgrade Windows and Doors
Installing double-glazed windows will ensure your home is warmer and quieter. Made with two panes of glass and a sealed gap in between, this will play a huge role in stopping heat loss.
Triple glazing is another effective solution. Or, secondary glazing can be added to existing windows and is ideal for rented properties.
4 – Look At Producing Your Own Energy
You don’t have to pay for energy if you can generate it yourself. You may be able to save money on your energy bills by generating enough energy to power your entire home in some circumstances. But even if you can’t, you will save a lot of money on your energy bill because you only have to pay for a small portion of the energy you use.
Photo by Vivint Solar
You should contact some solar providers and find out more about having solar panels installed on your roof. The initial cost may be considerable, but you will save a lot of money in the long run. If you have space, a modest wind turbine might be installed in the garden to generate even more energy. Some energy companies even buy back any excess energy you make, so you could even end up making a profit.
5 – Change Your Light Bulbs
This is by far one of the easiest changes that anyone can make but has a huge impact on not only your energy bills but the environment too. Traditional light bulbs are inefficient when compared to the new LED light bulbs available. These new energy-saving lights last much longer and use a fraction of the energy that traditional lights do. If you make the transition in your home, you will immediately notice a significant change.
Further Reading: How To Renovate Your Home On A Budget With 17 Easy Tips!
PIN: 5 Ways You Can Save Money On Your Energy Bills
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