Energy-efficient homes help keep utility costs under control and residents warm, healthy, and comfortable. They also ensure the protection of a home’s foundations and the possessions it shelters, with stable temperatures eliminating factors that lead to mould growth and other nuisances. Handily, it also means increasing your property’s market value in the meantime.
The rising cost of living might feel intuitive to all of us, but the Office for National Statistics reveals just how severely household energy expenses have accelerated, with average monthly bills almost doubling from £108 in May 2020 to around £200 in June 2023.
Unsurprisingly, 51% of us are actively using less fuel thanks to these rising costs. On top of the UK’s mortgage crisis that transpired last year, homeowners across the country are eager for money-saving expertise that puts a leash on expenditure without having the family freeze this winter. Here are Framemaster’s six optimal means for making your home more energy efficient so you can stop costing the climate as well as yourself.
-
Windows
If you still have old, drafty windows, we’re afraid you’re paying for heating that immediately flees from your home. Replacing these liabilities with quality, double-glazed, and professionally installe d casements is the first important step to transforming your home’s energy efficiency. The two layers of glass with a sealed air or gas-filled space in between promise durability, greater soundproofing, and, chiefly, double the thermal efficiency.
At Framemaster, you are guaranteed high-performing casements, from uPVC models,
coloured windows, aluminium windows, and more. When you combine the finest materials with our years of expertise in the industry, we produce products that last and enhance your quality of life for decades to come.
-
Close the gaps: doors
Whilst windows are certainly a major problem area for losing heat, the UK’s Energy Saving Trust reveals that front doors account for up to 20% of escaping energy. This figure skyrockets when a home is fitted with a poorly manufactured and crudely insulated external door.
At Framemaster, we advise investing in a robust front door made from cocooning, high-quality composite materials. With a reliable, solid construction and airtight seals reinforcing the door, your home will be made impenetrable from the cold. Framemaster’s diverse range of door manufacturing, whether that is uPVC casts, french doors, sliding doors, or any other bespoke door designs, has durability and efficiency at the forefront of its architecture, so you can savour your central heating without throwing money away out the door.
-
Close the gaps: walls, floors, ceilings
It might sound dramatic, but quality insulation saves lives every year over the British winter months. Cavity walls were a common feature in the construction of British homes throughout the 20th century. Crucially, these cavity walls are filled with empty spaces between them and are disastrous for leaking warmth from your home.
If your property was built between 1920 and 1990, there is a good chance that you and your family are living with inadequate insulation. The issue is so extensive that across the UK there have been calls for national campaigns to insulate Britain. But there is no need to wait, insulation might be initially expensive to install, costing a standard semi-detached home just under £3,000, but the sooner poor insulation is rectified then the sooner you can start reaping the benefits.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that homes with sufficient insulation are saving an additional £300 a year compared to those without. But on top of the financial advantages, proper insulation amplifies the comfort and repose of your home. By effectively regulating temperatures at an amicable level, your home becomes a warm refuge during the sharp winter seasons and a cool fortress throughout the summer heat waves.
Cavity wall insulation specifically involves injecting trussing material into the empty space, conveniently soundproofing your neighbours whilst simultaneously stablising indoor temperatures. But really, it is wise to insulate as much of your home as you possibly can. Following the old rule ‘heat rises’, loft insulation is another great energy-saving maneuver. And the same goes for your hot water cylinder, which is a trick many homeowners neglect. According to the Centre for Sustainable Energy, encasing your hot water cylinder with a tailored blanket can limit heat loss by an incredible 75%, ultimately saving you an annual amount of around £60.
-
Upgrade your boiler
Completing a basic maintenance check over your household’s major appliances, such as your boiler, is something you can do immediately to start future-proofing your home. With the tumultuousness of daily family life, the last time your boiler was serviced might have been much longer ago than you think.
Ideally, every household would invite an annual inspection of their boiler ahead of the winter to allow for the detection of potential issues before the worst of the season hits or the extensive repair needs become too costly. We know this might not always be possible, but you might find that regular inspections are part of your contract with your provider, in which case it’s lucky you as an inspection should be free. But regardless, consulting professionals in the industry where you may save you thousands in repair or replacement costs should an issue go undiscovered for too long. When in doubt, always speak to an expert in the field, and the friendly staff here at Framemaster would be happy to help.
-
Water usage
In the national conversation, household water bills are usually given less attention than gas and electric bills. But the average UK water bill in 2023 is hitting heights of around £448 a year, the steepest hike in almost two decades. So it’s important not to forget this particular utility when moving towards a more energy-efficient home.
There are reliable methods you can count on for reducing your water usage, from simple classics such as shorter showers and turning off the tap whilst you brush your teeth, to more advanced tricks such as taking advantage of new technologies. The water efficiency organisation Save Water Save Money distributes hundreds of thousands of free efficiency devices to help families control their water usage. These include newly designed shower heads that use smaller nozzles that maintain water pressure whilst regulating the flow rate to 7 litres per minute as opposed to the standard 15 litres per minute.
-
Staying in the know with a smart meter
You can’t make meaningful steps towards energy efficiency without the means to scrutinise your energy usage. It is an invaluable tool to be able to identify where wastage occurs and the simplest way to do this is to own a smart meter. Smart meters clearly track your consumption habits as you go with breakdowns hour by hour where information is organised into the different utilities.
We can’t always predict our energy usage nor plan out our lives to every minute detail, but a smart meter means you can pinpoint if you’ve exceeded your desired usage and gives you the chance to make up for it elsewhere.
In need of help? Speak to Framemaster
As homeowners across the UK make the extra effort to energy-proof their homes, you will want to make sure you’re getting the correct advice from trusted sources. Here at Framemaster, we have years of specialist experience designing, supplying, and constructing home improvement miracles. We provide free and practical consultations for any of our renovation services, so contact us today for the latest insights into enhancing your home.
