We are already in the second half of 2022, and currently, electricity and gas prices in Europe are 10 times higher than last year. Soaring energy bills are making the European public suffer. With the coming winter, almost everyone is looking for ways to cut their energy bills.
For individuals, saving energy starts all around, with low-carbon travel and less waste. But the largest energy consumption is in the home, heating, cooling, and lighting, your home consumes energy every minute of every day. How to make homes more energy efficient is a matter of concern. So, this article will take you through 8 tips on how to make your house more energy efficient.
You can watch the corresponding video on YouTube.
1. Sealing doors, windows and pipes
Anything in the house that is open to the outside world can be a source of heat loss, even if it is closed. For this reason, you can test all windows and doors in your home to see if they are completely sealed. If you find a drafty section, carefully seal the windows or doors with weather stripping, weather stripping, caulking or tape.
If your home uses a duct-based ventilation system, it is also important to test the ducts for sealing. Sealing leaky areas with duct tape will reduce any air loss and reduce energy loss.
2. Choose air source heat pump
Heating is the largest part of energy consumption in a home. Compared to other heating devices, air source heat pumps are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. A heat pump uses no natural gas, no coal, and no oil. It can absorb the low-temperature heat from the outdoor air, process it through the refrigerant and transfer the heat to the indoor system such as heater or floor heating to play a heating role.
If your financial condition allows, air source heat pump will be the best choice for home heating.
3. Unplug rarely used devices
Plugged-in electronic devices use power even when they are turned off (or in standby mode). Usually, it’s much less than when they’re turned on, but it adds up exponentially on every device in your home, and over time it wastes a lot of energy. Avoid this by unplugging devices like TVs and game consoles when they’re not in use. Even if you don’t want to, it’s definitely a good idea to disconnect all possible power sources when you’re away (for example, when you go on vacation).
These are the small steps that can save you money. At the end of the year, you can calculate the amount of money you saved, and the number will surely surprise you.
4. Choose energy-saving appliances
This is easier said than done, especially when budgets are limited. However, older and less efficient appliances consume much more energy than those made to be more energy efficient. If you are planning to purchase new appliances for your home, consider energy-efficient appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings.
They may cost more than traditional ones when you buy them, but you’ll end up saving a lot of money over the years because they use less energy.
5. Upgrade to LED
It’s 2022, but many people still rely on extremely inefficient lighting in their homes. While it may not seem like a big deal, the least efficient bulbs (such as halogen bulbs) can waste a lot of power if used throughout the home for years. So one of the easiest and fastest ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption is to switch to more efficient lighting, such as LEDs.
6. Use less oven
Ovens are big consumers of energy, and many of the things we use them for on a daily basis can actually be accomplished using other, more efficient devices, such as microwaves.
Try not to use your oven for anything to save significantly on energy. Or, you can try turning off the oven before the cooking time is over, as the oven will retain its heat for a while.
7. Track your electricity consumption with smart meters
Having a smart meter will allow you to see your electricity consumption in real time. This way, you will be able to identify your weaknesses. From there, you can plan how to make your home more energy efficient. Smart meters also allow you to set timers for your heating. This way, the heating will only come on during certain parts of the day. Timing your heating to start or turn off will allow you to save more in the winter.
8. Install solar panels
If you have the financial resources and enough space, then installing solar panels will be one of the most effective features on your path to a more energy efficient building. With PV, you only need to purchase a small amount of electricity from the grid and can even sell the excess back to the energy company to further reduce your energy costs.
Photovoltaic panels can power everything electrical in your home, and can also be used to heat your water and rooms. Solar panel systems usually require an initial investment, but they can save you a lot of money on your energy bills in the long run.
Click to see more examples of PV panels installed on homes. Contact us to see if your home is suitable for PV panels and to get a quote.
