50 useful ideas to make your home more energy efficient, warmer and greener,
Below are a number of activities and products that can help you maintain a warmer and more energy efficient home this winter. Many of these ideas are good practices year round. Many are obvious and some might make you think thats a great idea. Several of the below will have an instant benefit and the combination of others will have a long term benefit.
- Keep doors closed especially to unused rooms, create a good floor seal with draft excluders
- Wash only full loads in your washing machine and turn down the temperature setting
- Where possible, air dry your clothes
- Unplug unused appliances & electronics as even turned off they absorb energy
- Closing curtains maintains warmth
- Keep windows closed especially when heaters are on
- Only heat the rooms that you are using
- Showers use 4x less energy than baths to heat
- Use less pressure in your shower
- Put lids on pots and pans to reduce cooking time
- A tightly packed freezer minimises wasted energy
- Only use the dishwashers wash cycle, let the dishes air dry
- Wear more clothes inside and turn down the heat
- Turning the thermostat down a degree and keeping on longer can reduce costs
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs which use up to 75 percent less energy or switch to LEDs
- Insulate unused windows and patio doors by sealing them a window film
- Find a lower cost energy provider
- Unless you have spray foam insulation, don’t enter your attic space
- Insulate your attic space with spray foam for an efficient thermal barrier
- Insulate your cavity walls
- Replace old windows with either double or triple glazing
- Replace filters in your dryer or HVAC systems to keep them efficient
- Seal holes around vents, pipe and cables that penetrate outside
- Add insulation sleeves to water pipes to keep the heat in the pipe
- Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
- Get a fire place plug for your fire place
- Replace an old fashioned thermostat for a programmable one
- Wash your windows to allow the sun in to warm up your rooms
- Tune ups for your heating and boiling systems can make them more efficient
- Batch cook your meals to reduce oven running time
- After using your oven and turning it off, leave the door open to heat your kitchen
- Microwaves use less energy for warming food than ovens
- Try and match the size of the hob to the right pot or pan
- Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need
- Fix the dripping tap!
- Install dimmer switches on lights to save energy and enjoy mood lighting
- Adjust security lights motion detectors for over sensitivity or too much distance
- Replace old appliances with new energy saving models
- Don’t buy oversized fridge freezers for a small house hold
- Locate your fridge in the shade and away from the oven and heaters
- Use your fridge to defrost thawing food, which helps keep the fridge cooler
- Open blinds and curtains instead of turning on lights
- Turn the water off whilst brushing your teeth
- Watch less TV, less time online and get out of the house too
- If you do have to use the dryer, use tumble dryer balls to reduce drying time
- Turn the cold drinks fridge off during the winter months
- Replace out door lighting with solar powered out door lighting
- Use machines like dishwashers, dryers and washing machines during off peak times
- If you have or will install solar panels, keep them clean so the sun can reach the cells.
- Get a free smart meter to monitor your progress
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