Andy Corless, Managing Director at energy efficiency and home improvement group, entu , takes a look at the changes you can make in your home that can aid you this spring time.
Spring is that point in the year when everyone seems to become slightly more positive as the weather improves; we remember what daylight on a weekday looks like and have a handful of bank holiday weekends to enjoy.
For many, spring cleaning will be high on the agenda as people look to get their house in order, but this doesn’t have to end with a dustpan and brush. A lot of homeowners are unaware that other changes and improvements around the home can have a significant impact and may mean that you can afford scenario A for your summer holiday instead of scenario B.
The biggest cause for concern for me is that homeowners are, all too often, simply unaware of how energy efficient their house is. When the energy bills come through at the end of the month, many depart with their hard-earned money without questioning the amount and whether anything can be done to reduce it. Spring represents a perfect time for people to educate themselves on the energy efficiency of their own home and cleanse their dwellings of old and inefficient features and products. There is a general consensus that people can’t do much about the pricing set by energy companies but people need to be informed that there is something they can do in regards to the amount of energy they use.
Such implementations can be from A-rated boilers, to cavity wall insulation and even solar panels; all of which can dramatically reduce your energy bills each month and help to reduce your carbon emissions. An old boiler is one of the biggest drains on a house’s energy usage as heating the home accounts for 55% of the annual energy expenditure. By employing an energy efficient boiler, one can continue to heat their home accordingly, but at a fraction of the cost. Another minor but important adjustment is Cavity Wall Insulation. Implementing CWI can save up to £250 on your annual energy bills and can be installed in half a day to a day. by a professional, ensuring minimal fuss. A-rated windows and doors can also easily be overlooked but again can make a real difference. They are extremely low maintenance and can ensure that a home loses less valuable energy, which in turn will save you money on your monthly energy bills; a no brainer.
These changes can help modernise your home and in turn add security to properties. With the housing market how it is, many home-seekers are now looking at energy efficient properties with more interest than they ever have done. There is definitely a growing awareness of tangible and measurable savings that are being achieved by the savvy homeowner/ resident. Making a few small changes and modernising certain areas can considerably increase the asking price as reducing energy bills and a carbon emission continue to grow as a talking point.
As people become more informed as to how they can save money on their bills, uptake in energy efficient products will increase and become standard practice for any modern home. It is crucial that homeowners are given the chance to understand and appreciate the intricacies of their energy bills and how they can be reduced, as it is becoming clearer to us that people do care.
Pictured: Andy Corless, Managing Director at energy efficiency and home improvement group, entu.