7 Ways to Make your Home more Energy Efficient

With colder temperatures & rising energy bills, there is no better time to consider ways in which you can insulate your home to be more efficient, warmer, and cost-effective.

With so many options, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, we have compiled a list of 7 ways that you can improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Upgrade your windows

Inefficient windows or doors could be losing you up to 18% of your homes heat, so this is a great place to start if you want your home to be more energy efficient. Energy efficient windows & doors come in a range of frame materials and styles. The energy performance of a window depends on how well these materials stop heat from passing through, as well as how much sunlight travels through the glass and how little air can leak around the window.

If your home has single glazing, replacing this with more energy efficient, double or triple glazed windows & doors will make your home warmer & quieter. Double glazing is the most common type, made out of two panes of glass with a sealed gap in between, filled with air or an inert gas. Replacing your old windows & doors with new energy efficient ones can reduce problems such as draughts, condensation & noise pollution, and also refreshes the look of your home.

However – if your windows are double glazed but are over ten years old, or damaged, this could allow heat to escape. Here at Total Home, all our double glazed windows come with a ten year guarantee.

Triple Glazing is made up of three panes of glass with two gaps – and can be more effective than double glazing for both heat retention and noise reduction.

When looking for your new energy efficient windows – you may think they look the same, but they don’t perform the same. However it is easily compared using these scores:

• You want windows that keep the heat in (Low U Value)
• Windows that take heat from the sun (High G Value)
• Windows that don’t let heat out (Low L Value)

Upgrade your doors

Upgrading to an ultra-efficient composite front door is an excellent way to make your home more efficient. This is because our Composite doors have an incredibly insulating and secure foam core enclosed by a Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). This also prevents the door from becoming scratched, damaged, or warped, and keeps the door weather and draft proof. Here at Total Home, our Composite doors feature a highly insulative 70mm polyurethane core which provides excellent thermal insulation, increased energy efficiency as well as security. Our Composite doors are tailored to your home & made to measure, installed perfectly to fit the frame – eliminating any draughts.

Draught proofing

Draught proofing is one of the cheapest, but also most effective ways to save energy – and money. Controlled ventilation in your home helps to reduce condensation & damp by allowing fresh air in when needed. However, when these draughts are uncontrolled – they will let in too much cold air and waste too much heat.

Draught proofing your home is simple – you should block up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. By doing this, you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so not only will your home be cosy and warm, but you’ll be saving money as well.

*Draught-proofing external doors can stop a lot of heat from escaping, and is one of the most cost effective methods to make your home more energy efficient. There are four main areas you should consider draught-proofing:

• Keyhole – buy a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over the keyhole.
• Letterbox – use a letterbox flap or brush to stop cold air getting in.
• Gap at the bottom – use a brush or hinged flap draught excluder.
• Gaps around the edges – You can fit foam, brush or wiper strips.

Internal doors need draught-proofing if they lead to a room you don’t normally heat, such as your spare room or kitchen. Keep those doors closed to stop the cold air from moving into the rest of the house. If there is a gap at the bottom of the door, block it with a draught excluder.

Internal doors between two heated rooms don’t need draught-proofing, as you don’t lose energy when warm air circulates.

Chimney

If you don’t use your fireplace, your chimney is most likely a source of unnecessary draughts & heat loss. There are two main ways to draught-proof a chimney:

• Fit a cap over the chimney pot – this might be better done by a professional.
• Buy a chimney draught excluder – these help stop draughts and heat loss through the chimney, and are usually fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace.

Remember to remove the draught-proofing if you decide to light a fire.

Upgrade your old boiler

Your boiler accounts for up to 55% of your energy bills – and an inefficient one can therefore be a real problem when it comes to saving energy. Boilers are becoming more energy efficient all the time, so upgrading to a modern A-rated boiler system will use up less energy. Older boilers also tend to require more maintenance and repair – so upgrading your boiler to a modern one will save you some maintenance bills along the way.

Position your furniture

Something as simple as the position of your furniture can make a big difference to the effectiveness of heating your home. Make sure to keep beds or sofas well away from radiators to stop them from blocking heat from evenly distributing around the room

Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting may seem like a minor part of your homes energy use, swapping old light bulbs for low energy LEDs can improve your EPC rating. Although LED bulbs are more expensive to buy, they use around 90% less energy and can last up to fifteen times as long.

Total Home – Total Peace of mind.

You can save money on your energy bills with Total Home, whether you’re considering replacing your windows, doors, or any of our home improvement services we offer – we can offer you total peace of mind. You can contact us for a free, no obligation quote, or visit us at our showroom in Belfast to speak to one of our experts and get a feel for our product ranges.