How to make your Home more Energy Efficient this winter

There has never been a time, when keeping your home as insulated as possible has been more important. With the prices of electricity and heating, according to statistics from the House of Commons, Gas prices have increased by 141% since winter 2021/22 compared to a 65% increase for electricity. This is forcing many of us to use less electricity and gas in our homes.

First step

Before you start making any changes to your property, review how energy efficient your house currently is. The easiest way to do this is by looking at your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This will assess all the appliances used for heating, lighting and hot water are considered and their energy consumption are calculated on the amount of energy used per m2 and the level of CO2 emissions (given in tonnes per year). This allows you to lower your use of household items that consume and produce the most energy in your home.

Here are a list of small steps you can do to save on your energy bills this winter;

• Turning off all standby appliances
• Turn off appliances that are not in use
• Reduce time in the shower
• Use washing machine at 30 *C
• Stop using the tumble dryer
• Draught proof your windows and doors (see below for more info.)
• Double or Triple glazing windows
• Wall and Flooring insulation

Windows and Doors

Here at Total Home NI, we are experts in manufacturing highly insulated windows and doors. Your energy bills will go down and your carbon footprint will go down if you upgrade the energy efficiency of your doors, windows, and conservatory.

We offer both double and triple glazing, as energy efficient glazing. These are sealed units with two or more glass panes. Additionally, you can increase your home’s energy efficiency by adding secondary glazing or even by utilising thick curtains. Having windows that are energy efficient may help you lower your carbon footprint and energy costs.

A double glazing installation can reduce annual energy bills by up to £195.

A++ double glazing can help you save up to £235 a year on energy expenditures by replacing single glazing.

A+ double glazing and A++ triple glazing are available at Total Home NI.

Similar to windows, doors let heat escape and can cause large draughts around the edges if they are not installed tightly in their frames.

An integrated draught-proof frame, letterbox, and glazing are features of an energy-efficient door. Additionally insulated for less heat transfer will be the door slab.

Making windows and doors draft-proof can help you save £125 a year.

Roof insulation

A poorly insulated home may lose up to 25% of its heat via the roof, similar to how we lose heat from the top of our heads. Limiting heat loss and lowering your heating costs can be accomplished simply and effectively by insulating your loft, attic, or roof.

Replacing your conservatory roof- Remove an outdated roof and install a solid, tiled conservatory roof that is completely insulated and thermally efficient.

Since solid and conservatory roof technology has advanced so much in recent years, a new solid or glass roof will offer insulation that is significantly superior to that of your previous conservatory roof or, for that matter, the services offered by cladover roof companies. These modern, innovative roof solutions will flood your home with natural light while being secure, robust, and thermally efficient.

Floor Insulation

Floor insulation is a simple and effective way to keep your home warm and reduce your energy bills.

Insulating a concrete floor. Newer homes will have a concrete floor and solid insulation boards placed on the floor and underneath flooring can be used to insulate these. In fact, newer homes in this situation, you must upgrade your floor insulation in order to meet building regulations. When the heating is turned on, the rooms will warm up more quickly when insulation is installed above the slab.

Insulating a timber floor. Older homes will most likely have a timber floor and frequently contain holes and a lot of draughts, suspended flooring, and floorboards. As a starting point and as a cheaper option, attempt to fill up whatever holes you can and cover cold floors with rugs.

By insulating your flooring, it can save you from £60, as a terraced property to £155 in a Bungalow, in Northern Ireland.