Turn your boiler flow temperature down
We recommend checking your boiler flow temperature. Turning it down doesn’t affect the overall heat of your home – this is set by the thermostat – but it does mean your boiler takes slightly longer to get to that temperature. This easy change can help people to save up to £100 per year and become more energy efficient.
Make use of the barbecue
During the spring and summer months, if you have a barbeque, maximise on how frequently you use it and heat it with waste wood. Not only will this help you save on your energy bills, as no electricity or gas is used, it also makes for a great alfresco meal!
Leave a gap
Make sure you leave a gap between the furniture and radiator to allow heat to circulate more efficiently. The space allows convection currents to flow around the room, heating the space faster and more effectively.
Turn appliances off at the socket
One of the most straightforward ways to save both energy and money is to turn appliances off at the socket, rather than leaving them on standby. Devices that consume the most energy when left on standby include televisions, television boxes, microwaves and computers. Unplugging these can save the average home around £70 and up to £147 a year for high energy consumers.
Choose energy smart cooking
The kitchen is often where most of the energy in our homes is used, but there are many things you can do to make cook in an energy-smart way. For example, it’s more energy efficient to heat water in a kettle than on a stove; using a lid to cover pots and pans means food will cook quicker and use less energy; and turning your oven off 10 minutes before your food finishes will continue cooking at the same temperature.
Fill appliances
Whether it’s the dishwasher, washing machine or even your oven, it’s best to fill appliances to make the most of its energy use, rather than running the machines multiple times.
Think about thermostat placement
It’s best practice not to position your thermostat near your front door, as any cold air entering can manipulate the temperature being recorded and force the boiler to fire up unnecessarily.
Regularly defrost your freezer
Another easy but useful tip is to regularly defrost your freezer. Not only does this make sure the the freezer is working at its most effective rate, but it also allows you to fill it up. A full freezer uses less energy, as it won’t warm up when the door is opened. If a freezer is relatively empty, the compartment will fill up with warm air, resulting in the freezer working harder to cool it down again.
Install Solar Panels and earn money!
As the price of installing solar panels falls, this energy-saving option becomes both more attractive and more affordable, with the price of installing the average domestic solar PV system of 3.5kWp now costing around £5,500. This will typically take up around 20m2 roof area, so space is a key consideration when assessing a home’s suitability for solar panels.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme is the latest power-selling scheme, introduced by the UK Government in 2020, and is a win/win, environmentally friendly option. Available to homeowners with solar panels, it means that the energy you don’t use at home can be converted into money. To be a part of the SEG scheme, your installation will need to be MCS accredited.
You will need to register for a SEG tariff through an approved energy supplier. This does not need to be your import supplier, so shop around for the best rates before signing up. To help you get the readings accurately and know how much they owe you, you’ll need to have a meter that can take half-hourly readings. In most cases, you will be able to use your smart meter.
Solar panels are considered a great way to save money on bills and they are a good investment in your home and even more importantly, an investment in the planet.
If you need any advice or are looking to buy an investment property we would be delighted to assist and help you with a ready made team. Call direct on + 44 (0) 207 993 4081 or simply send an email for a fast response.
