Improving energy efficiency in your home is one of the best things you can do to save yourself money and lower your carbon footprint, and we are here to share our top tips on how to do this. Taking simple steps can make a big difference, and you’ll soon notice an improvement in your comfort levels and heating bills.
How to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Home
Improving energy efficiency in your home is one of the best things you can do to save yourself money and lower your carbon footprint, and we are here to share our top tips on how to do this. Taking simple steps can make a big difference, and you’ll soon notice an improvement in your comfort levels and heating bills.
We’ll look at how to optimise your home heating system, and we’ll help you find the most efficient solutions for your home.
Upgrades for Your Home Heating
Have you considered the following ways to improve energy efficiency in your home?
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Improve your insulation.
It sounds simple, but upgrading the attic and wall insulation in your home can help prevent heat loss, and this does not have to be expensive. You can seal the gaps around doors and windows to prevent heat from escaping this way, and this will help to reduce drafts. Thermal curtains will help to block out the cold air, and even such simple measures as placing draft excluders under your doors can help to keep the heat in the right places.
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Upgrade your boiler and heating system.
If your boiler is very old, you are likely spending a lot on your heating bills because your system is not optimised for efficiency. The latest technology used in boilers and heating systems is much more efficient, and you can save a great deal of money by making the switch. You should ensure that your boiler is serviced annually to make sure it is giving the best performance, and you may find that installing smart thermostats helps you to control the temperature in your home more accurately.
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Bleed radiators regularly.
Optimising your heating system means ensuring that energy is not being wasted, and it is important to bleed your radiators regularly to remove trapped air. This is a fairly simple process to carry out yourself, and you will usually need to use a radiator key to do this. You can also make the most of your radiators by using radiator reflectors to preserve the heat in the room and using timers to ensure that you are not wasting heat when it is not needed.
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Use your fuel efficiently.
As a supplier of high-quality home heating oil in Ireland, we know that prices are more competitive at certain times of the year – usually when demand is lower – and that buying in bulk will often save you money on your fuel and delivery costs. If you are using oil or wood to fuel your home, talk to your supplier about the best times to buy, and ensure you are storing your fuel correctly to prevent wastage. For home heating oil, for instance, you should ensure that your oil is stored in a well-maintained, clean tank. Monitoring your fuel usage can help you spot patterns in your usage and avoid overconsumption, which will save you money and help to protect the environment.
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Adopt sustainable heating practices.
Recent advances in heating technology have introduced new ways to save money and lower your carbon footprint, including hybrid heating systems and heat pumps that offer more efficient ways to heat your home. It is worth experimenting with your heating habits to reduce your usage when rooms are not in use or by using blankets and extra layers of clothing to keep the people in your home warmer and enable you to turn the thermostat down.
Taking steps to optimise the way your home is heated will save you money and lower your impact on the environment, as well as educating others who live in and visit your home about energy-efficient practices. Talk to our friendly team for more ideas and to find out when to buy your heating oil at the best prices.
Energy Saving Tips
Some simple energy-saving tips can reduce your household bills and help you to do your bit for the planet. Our top tips include:
- Fill your kettle according to need. How often do you boil a full kettle and only use a small amount of water? Boiling the kettle is energy-intensive, and you can make the most of it by boiling only what you need or, alternatively, by boiling a full kettle and storing the surplus in a flask or insulated bottle for use later in the day.
- Use hot water bottles. Warming the person rather than the home is a common recommendation for reducing your energy bills, and hot water bottles can be a really good option. You can use hot water bottles and heated throws to warm yourself and your family, and this will enable you to set your thermostat at a lower temperature, making significant savings.
- Water your plants. Being sparing with your water is a great choice for the planet, and you can save several litres every day by using your used cooking water or taking a bucket into the shower to catch the excess. You can use this ‘grey water’ to water your plants – they may benefit from the additional nutrients, too!
- Check the energy efficiency of your appliances. Appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and fridge freezers can use a huge amount of power, and the latest models offer a much higher level of energy efficiency. If your old appliances need replacing, prioritise energy-efficient models that will be cheaper to run and will have less impact on the environment. Tumble dryers are very expensive to run, so avoid using one wherever possible by drying clothes outdoors or on a drying rack.
- Wash your clothes less frequently. Washing clothes is not only energy-intensive, but it also wears your clothing out more quickly! Aim to do fewer loads of washing per week and ensure that you fill the washing machine rather than washing half a load. Washing your clothing at 30 degrees is also much better for the clothing and the planet than washing at higher temperatures and will give you the same clean results as long as your clothes are not heavily stained.
- Shower instead of bathing. Did you know that a shower uses a lot less water than a bath? Keeping your shower time to around three minutes could save a huge amount of water, and this is good news for your water bill and for the planet. The shower can be more cost-effective, too, especially if you use a bucket to reuse the excess water and keep your showers short.
- Switch off when not in use. It isn’t just the lights; all of your devices will last longer, and your energy bills will be reduced if you switch off at the plug when not in use. This can also help to reduce the risk of fire in your home. If you don’t want to switch off at the plug or you are using smart plugs, turning devices onto standby can also save energy, although you will still use a small amount of electricity.
- Use a smart meter. Using a smart meter or energy monitor can help you figure out where you are using a lot of electricity so that you can alter your usage to reduce consumption if needed. You can monitor your appliances one by one to check which ones are the most energy efficient.
- Cook efficiently. It is usually more energy efficient to use an air fryer or microwave than to use the oven, and this is often much quicker, too. When you are cooking on the hob, you should always use the correct-sized hob ring for your pan, as this will avoid wasting energy, and you should use the smallest saucepan available to you. You can turn off the heat before your food is cooked when using the oven or the hob, allowing your food to finish cooking as the hob or oven cools down.
- Water your garden in the evening. If you have plants that need watering in your garden, it is best to do this in the evening when the water will be absorbed overnight rather than evaporating, as it would at the hottest times of the day. Using a water butt to water the plants with collected rainwater rather than using your outdoor tap will significantly reduce your water bills and could save a lot of water over time.
Order Your Home Heating Oil in Ireland
At East Cork Oil, we work hard to provide the very best heating oil solutions for domestic and commercial customers across the Southern counties of Ireland. We source and deliver fuels to homes, workplaces and vehicles, including agricultural, marine and road diesel, and we will help you find the best options for your situation.
Our friendly team can help you with emergency ‘out of oil’ delivery services, and we offer flexible deliveries and payment plans. We supply a full range of oils, lubricants, replacement tanks and smart tank monitoring systems, and we can ensure that your heating system is functioning as efficiently as possible. We offer the highest quality home-heating oil at the most competitive prices, so we can help you to make the most of your budget and do your bit for the environment at the same time.
