WEEAC
With the price of fuel increasing every month home owners are now being forced to consider how they heat and light their homes and what it costs them. The days of cheap gas are now over. The UK is a net importer of gas and there is little to no gas sourced from the North Sea.
As a result the UK is now dependant on foreign imports and has to pay the premiums for this. Alongside this, the cost of oil and fuel is also now at an all time high. All of these factors are now impacting UK householders in a significant way. The government is now having to struggle with the very real threat that thousands of people in Britain will be in fuel poverty this winter.
Until now most of the population has become very used to heating and lighting their homes without having to consider the financial implications, lights are left on, heating is left on or turned up at the drop of a hat. Now however it is a different story as homeowners are beginning to realise the effect on their monthly and quarterly bills.
Every day there is a significant amount of wasted heat and electricity which could be saved. Most homeowners do not know where their energy goes or what proportion of it is used in which areas of the home. A few years ago the main source of electricity useage was the fridge and the freezer, however now the main usage comes from enertainment systems and computers.
In order for you to see exactly how their electricity is used, one solution is to invest in a smart meter. These are devices which tell you how much electricity is being used in your home. Some attach to your wall sockets others can be wireless. They will tell you exactly where you are using elecricity , how much it is costing you and how much carbon you are emiting to the atmosphere.
You will then be able to see exactly where you can save electricity at any time of the day.
Most of the energy we use is for heating our homes. Society has become very dependant on having a warm home whenever it is required. The heating systems we have in our homes vary greatly from house to house. New housing now has to adhere to building regulations which put energy efficiency as a priority and with the Code for Sustainable Homes even more can be done to ensure new build homes maximise their heating options.
One of the cheapest ways to maximise the heat from your existing system is to place reflector panels behind your radiators. This refects the heat back into the room rather than it being absorbed by the wall. Also ensure your boiler is regularly services, a little tweaking can improve efficiency straight away.
Ensure you have your heating on a timer setting. Relying on the thermostat to keep the temperature constant throughout the home means the house will be heated at times when there is no one there. Also turn off radiators in rooms which are rarely used, this will also help to reduce your over all bills.
For a traditional heating system, a high efficiency boiler is the most efficient type and these are now required by the Building Regulations. However solar water heating is also becoming a popular option for homeowners to generate their own hot water. Most solar heating installations will need to be supported by a traditional heating system to reach the required temperatures but the amount used will be far less, therefore reducing bills significantly.
Other forms of heating such as underfloor or wood burning stoves are also very energy efficient and help to provide warmth to the home without costing the earth - literally.
For more information about heating options see our heating section of the website.
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