Investing in energy-saving measures offers long term rewards
From installing solar panels to a new washing machine, find out how much you could save on your home energy use
By Joan McFadden
With the cost of energy high on many people’s list of concerns it’s easy to look at short-term solutions rather than plan for the future. While there are ways to reduce your bills through quick and easy actions, these do not always offer the sustainable and consistent savings of longer-term investment.
With environmental concerns also growing in importance for households, finding ways to be more efficient is becoming an increasingly urgent issue – and these ways are more accessible and effective than ever.
Investing in energy-efficient improvements for your home can reduce your carbon footprint, save you money and add value to your property all at the same time.
“We all want our homes to be as nice as possible, adding comfort and value and looking beautiful,” says property expert and Homes Under the Hammer presenter Martin Roberts. “The right investments can really improve the quality of your life but sometimes the hardest part is getting started. If you’re in an environment that can be changed for the better then my advice is to get moving, and get it done.” You can see what improvements may be right for your home by visiting gov.uk/saveenergy.
Look to the loft
A quarter of heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the roof, while a third leaks through the walls. It’s galling to think of your precious heat being wasted, and it can also be draughty and uncomfortable. Installing loft insulation costs between £400-£1,200 for the average house and has a lifespan of around 40 years. It’s a good opportunity to clear out the clutter while making the loft space accessible and you should engage a professional to check whether there are any issues that may need dealing with. “This is a good one to kick off with when considering energy saving possibilities,” says Martin. “You make your money back quickly and save on energy bills.”
Wall insulation
The type of wall insulation you need is governed by whether you have cavity or solid walls. Older houses, especially pre the 1920s, are more likely to have solid walls, while those built between the 1920s and 1990s are likely to have cavity walls, which are two walls with a gap in between. Houses built from the mid-1990s onwards will mostly have wall insulation already installed.
If you’re unsure about your home’s wall insulation, ask a professional. See the National Insulation Association for advice, which also applies if your home is steel-frame, timber-framed or made from prefabricated concrete. The Energy Saving Trust advises having cavity wall insulation installed only by professionals, who drill holes in the outside walls, inject insulation material such as mineral wool or polystyrene beads into the cavity, and then seal with mortar.
“Get a professional installer whose work carries a guarantee,” says Martin. “This is specialised work and needs someone with the experience to assess and address problems, like cracks in the walls. They could mean nothing or a very big something that needs to be fixed.” Look for professionals with TrustMark accreditation, which is the only government-endorsed quality scheme for work carried out in your home.
Be smart
Installing air or ground source heat pumps means cleaner electricity, considerably more efficiency than traditional boilers, and a reduction in household energy use. They will replace traditional boilers and currently start at the same price as oil and gas boilers, using the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The grants provide £5,000 towards an air source heat pump and £6,000 towards a ground source heat pump, and more than 10,000 homeowners have applied so far.
Check the Heat Pump suitability calculator to confirm if your home is suitable and find out how to apply for a grant from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which applies to England and Wales. Other schemes are available in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
“Air source pumps are reasonably easy to fit but ground source heat pumps need to have boreholes drilled,” says Martin. “This isn’t a like-for-like exchange of boiler so always ensure the rest of your system is compatible.”
South-facing homes are the best for solar panels, especially if they’re unshaded. East and west-facing roofs yield around 15-20 per cent less energy than ones facing directly south, whereas north-facing roofs aren’t recommended. There’s little disruption in installation but it’s a job for the professionals, because it’s fairly complex.
If your panels end up producing more power than you need, you can sell power back to the grid with the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. You can register for the SEG tariff through an approved energy supplier, and shop around for suppliers with the best rates. In order to qualify, you will need to demonstrate that the installation and installer are suitably certified. This may be a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certificate, but SEG recognises other schemes equivalent to MCS. You will also need to install a meter for accurate readings on what’s owed to you.
Typical yearly savings with solar panels are £210 - £510 on energy bills, plus anything you don’t use can be paid back to you in money if you’re on the SEG scheme. The average domestic solar PV system of 3.5kWp now costs from around £5,500.
“Solar panels are further enhanced by the latest battery storage,” says Martin. “You can still charge electricity at night and combine solar PV with other renewable technologies for the best back-ups.”
Upgrade your appliances
If your washing machine is going walkabout with every spin cycle it’s probably nearing its end, so it’s time to look at newer, more energy-efficient white goods. The same goes for everything from lightbulbs and entertainment systems to kitchen appliances. To find out how much more energy-efficient alternative models could be, Label 2020 has the latest information on labelling, rating from A for best rating down to G for worst rating.
Cooking uses a lot of energy, especially electric ovens, so consider microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers instead. Washing machines are unavoidable for most, though always waiting for a full load and washing at 30°C help reduce costs. Tumble dryers are the worst for consumption but many people feel they need them, especially for bigger items. If you feel you do need one, there are more energy efficient models on the market.
When it comes to energy efficiency, there still aren’t many A-rated goods on the market, though C and D-rated appliances are more energy-efficient than older white goods. “Sometimes you spend to save and that’s often the case when an appliance isn’t doing its job properly,” says Martin. “If you make a list of everything in the house that could be upgraded energy-wise, you’ll be surprised at what you’ve been putting up with.”
The future of heating
The current energy crisis has made many people reappraise their heating habits, but nothing brings it home to you like smart heating controls. Every wasted hour grates, whether you’re delayed at work, on an unexpected night out or you forgot to change the timer. Smart heating controls have been welcomed not just by technology wizards, but can make life easier for disabled or elderly people with mobility issues, while everyone can benefit from turning down radiators in rooms that aren’t being used, or coming home to a warm house. Many people have found them extremely useful in assessing and changing heating habits they’ve followed for years.
Most systems have a wireless hub which connects to your boiler, and a wireless thermostat controller, while some have individual smart radiator valves for different heating zones throughout your home. It is important to use smart controls in the correct way with a compatible boiler to see savings, and the good news is that prices are getting ever more competitive. They now average between £150 and £200 for the thermostats and approximately £50 per valve – with more features being introduced, such as using the latest voice control systems. “You should only heat the parts of your home that you’re using when you need them,” says Martin. “Smart heating controls make you focus on this and remember you’re in control.”
Insulate to accumulate
Solid wall insulation is possibly the most expensive and disruptive energy-saving option, yet the yearly energy savings, added comfort and value still make it worthwhile, especially since it also helps treat damp and can really freshen up the look of the building. Underfloor insulation is only for homes with suspended timber floors and is also a long-term investment that reduces energy costs, saving between £110- £180 a year, as well as making a home noticeably warmer. “Getting a professional in for these big jobs makes sense,” says Martin. “Don’t forget things like hot water cylinder insulation – a very cheap option and the outlay is recouped in months.”
Energy-saving tools at gov.uk/saveenergy cover all the options and detail costs and savings, including assessing your double glazing. This energy-saving measure has been around for a long time, but if you’ve also had it for many years, check it’s still effective. “Double glazing has developed so much over the years,” says Martin. “There’s a wide range of glass, it’s really attractive and there are options now for listed buildings or a conservation area. Always check with your local council if you have any questions around issues like that.”
Smart meters cost you nothing to have installed and accurately measure energy usage and give you a very clear idea of when your usage is heaviest, so you can assess how feasible it is to reduce this for lower bills and a smaller carbon footprint. Access to a more varied selection of Time of Use tariffs, such as Octopus Go and the Demand Flexibility Service, means customers could get a small bonus if they use less electricity than usual, at a particular time.
“List all the ways you can save energy and just go for it,” says Martin, “Your actions will make a vital difference to your home and the planet.”
Find out how to make energy-saving home improvements at gov.uk/saveenergy
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Project Manager: Emma Simpson, Commissioning Editor: Rupert Murray, Writer: Joan McFadden, Sub-editor: Tim Cumming, Illustrations: Tiffany Beucher, Lead Designer: Victoria Griffiths, Web Editor: Caroline Stacey
Martin Roberts
