The average UK household spends around £1,200 a year on heating and power. With this already being so high, and the looming threat of an energy bill increase on the horizon, many people may be looking for ideas to reduce energy bills.
On top of saving money, there are many benefits to lowering your home energy bills, including decreasing your carbon emissions and lessening the impact of climate change.
From loft insulation and boarding to easy tricks like radiator foils and window glazing, read our top tips every homeowner can do to prepare for April’s rising energy costs…
How can loft insulation reduce energy bills?
The whole aim of insulating your loft is to minimise the heat loss through the roof of your home. Reducing heat loss means less needs to be spent on energy to warm the home to a comfortable temperature.
Creating a thermal barrier aids in preventing rising heat from escaping through the roof. It might be worth assessing the effectiveness of your current insulation and replacing it if needed. You can check to see if it’s time for new insulation by simply measuring how deep it lays against the boarding.
There are various types of loft insulation available:
Blanket insulation
Loose-fill insulation
Blown fibre insulation
Sheet insulation
These styles can be made using a variety of materials including; fibreglass, mineral fibre, or cellulose. Depending on your budget, you may wish to opt for thicker insulation to further reduce energy bills and bring your old insulation level to the recommended standards of 270 millimetres for glass wool, 250 millimetres for rock wool or 220 millimetres for cellulose.
How can loft boarding reduce energy bills?
Did you know that when fitted incorrectly, loft insulation and boarding can result in double the heat loss from your home? Therefore it’s important to ensure the loft insulation and boarding is done right. When fitted directly on top, standard loft boards can squash your insulation, which reduces its effectiveness. Fortunately, all it takes to avoid this problem is to have raised loft boarding installed above your insulation, rather than on top of it!
Due to its Tri- and Uni-Supports which are made from extremely strong engineering-grade recycled plastic, the raised loft insulation and boarding system is far more robust than the original loft timber joists. The raised system design creates an air gap between the insulation, and the loft boards allow ventilation to prevent condensation, which could have led to damp forming. Damp could be a costly issue to have in your home, so a loft insulation and boarding system that enables your insulation to work as intended could save more than just energy bills.
Using loft lining and trim to reduce energy bills
While you’re investing in making your loft energy efficient, thermal foil lining is another go-to option to keep your house warmer during the winter. It works twofold by helping to stop the outside wind from entering your loft through the roof, as well as helping to reduce heat escaping with its reflective qualities.
If you line your loft hatch, you can also help to reduce the opportunity of draughts from inside the loft coming down into the living space of your home. This method of heat retention can work wonders to reduce energy bills.
Using radiator reflectors to reduce energy bills
A radiator reflector is an excellent and very cheap way to prevent heat loss through the external walls of your home. It works by reflecting the wasted heat energy radiated from the rear of the radiator back into the room. You can do this by hanging the thin reflective sheet or foil from the windowsill behind the radiator or sticking it to cut cardboard using wallpaper paste which is then placed between the radiator and the wall.
With no DIY skills needed, radiator reflectors are a quick and easy to fit method of reducing energy bills while being minimally intrusive to the aesthetic of the home. A popular hack is scrapping the specialist foil and using kitchen tin foil behind your radiator instead as an even more affordable alternative that works with only a slightly reduced effectiveness. It is important to note however that homemade foil reflectors are prone to crinkles and oxidising, which means their reflective usefulness will reduce over time.
How window glazing can reduce energy bills
Double glazing is the standard in most modern houses, but you can now get triple-glazed windows that are even more effective at stopping a home from losing heat. Window glazing insulates your home from the cold, helping your heating be more effective and a great way to reduce energy bills. This method has a higher price than other energy-saving options and is a longer-term investment; but it will pay for itself by reducing your energy bills after just several years.
With your loft being one of the most significant contributors to heat loss in a home, it’s also essential to consider the double glazing and insulation of any loft windows you may have to help save money on your home energy bills. Alternatively, if you’re looking to get a window in your loft installed, ensure you invest in one that comes equipped with appropriate thermal insulation.
If you’re looking for loft insulation and boarding to improve your home’s energy efficiency and savings, get in touch today. Call us on 08000463955 or email enquiries@instaloft.co.uk.