Energy Saving Around the House

Making home improvements not only makes your house look good, it can add value. We know that you've been thinking about the environment and how your kids and grand kids are going to cope, so we have put together some home improvement ideas that will add value, that will make the place cool and will save you money.

Just imagine... when it comes to selling your home you can boast about how cheap the house is to run and see how fast you sell it!

No. 1 - Solar Power! Believe it or not solar panels are widely available and are a superb way of generating free electricity for your house. These wonders of modern science have no moving parts so they last a long, long time. Stick em out in the sun and hey presto ... free electric.

Did you know? In some cases people using solar (and other methods) actually sell power back to the grid. Yes, that's right you not only have free electric but you can make money in the process.

 

No. 2 - It's down to those weird looking light bulbs again... The simply fact is they use up to 75% less energy than regular light-bulbs and last up to 12 times longer. We know, they cost a little more but the impact on the environment and the energy cost savings are worth every penny. Read our Quick Tips section.

 

No. 3 - Those clever scientists have worked out that the colour and materials use for your roof can help lower the tempter in the attic ... Jolly Wicked Info ... Next time you have to replace the roof tiles, think about a lighter colour, it simply will not absorb so much of the suns energy and therefore make it cooler in the attic. Don't worry about the Solar Panels you have installed, it will not have any detrimental affect on the amount of power you generate.

 

No. 4 - Outside Lighting. Instead of burning a light all night why not simply install a motion detector. Now we've all seen some of those lights that could light up Wembley Stadium, so let's not go there, your neighbours really do not need to believe that daylight has come early. Besides, these lights cost a fortune to run and are NOT green at all. There are good quality, low cost, energy efficient systems widely available. Check out our Do It Yourself section.

 

No. 5 - Don't waste water... There are lots of improvements you can make here. Check your toilets, do they have a 'Long' and 'Short' flush system? If you don't know chances are that they don't. Buying new Toilets with water saving features is not expensive and will save on the water bills and environment.

Think about the laundry you do ... there are ways of cutting back and saving money simply by reducing the tempeture that you wash at. See Quick Tips.

Dripping taps? It's a simply job of just replacing the washer! Get to it. Better still why not upgrade to new ones... it will make your house look wonderful.

Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth .... it's such a waste.

Take a quick shower instead of a bath .... wish I had time for a long soak! Install low flow showerheads. They are a worthwhile investment. They cut down on water usage and save energy costs.

 

No. 6 - Make your own compost heap. Now, simply mix up your food wastes in with the soil. You need to turn it over once a week (it's great exercise - get the kids to join in - it's a family thing). After all your toils you'll have some great compost to feed your vegetable patch or your prize roses. Check out this following web site on how to make a compost heap.

 

No. 7 - We all need to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so make sure your heating and cooling systems are well maintained. You could invest in a High-Efficiency HVAC system that is energy certified. These units really do cut down on the Green House Gases emitted. Find one with the highest possible rating. More information can be found through out site partners : Do It Yourself Guides.

 

No. 8 - Forget washing the car this weekend, what about cleaning the air conditioner filters or even replace them. Dirty and old filters restrict air flow which in turn uses more energy to run, costing you a great deal more money. Remember to adjust the thermostat to save even more money ... see Quick Tips. Install a high tech automated control thermostat and watch your energy bills come down.

 

No. 9 - You can buy Energy Saving Power strips for your computer and peripherals, such as printers, etc. Remember in the Quick Tips about that little red light? Yep your systems are still burning cash even when you are not using them ... TURN THEM OFF. A good power strip costs about £20 or less ... see our list of suppliers "Home Shop" Buy one right now and start saving your money and the planet!

 

No. 10 - Install more fans in your home - Check out our Do It Yourself Guides. The suppliers here have an excellent range. A good ceiling fan can help reduce your dependence on air conditioning during the summer and they are also helpful in the winter as they can push heat down from the ceiling.

 

No. 11 - Why not get the whole family together and have an Energy Audit? You can work together to find ways and ideas on how each of you could reduce the cost and help the planet. If you make a good list of all the things you need why not come back here and use our Home Shop section to find what you need. By buying online through us you won't need to spend money or waste fuel for the car! Home Shop

Why not ... if you have turned your house into a more energy efficient home we would love to hear about it. You can post your story through our Write and Submit an Article page. We will then post your story in our Going Green section for everyone to read!

 

No. 12 - You can save a huge amount of money and energy just by insulating your home better. Doors and windows are two of the most obvious areas of concern when it comes to home energy conservation. Use weather-stripping. Once air leaks have been detected, doors and windows are usually the first areas that need attention.

Check out our Do It Yourself Guides. There are many products on the market that are cheap and highly efficient.

 

No. 13 - Recycling is not that difficult ... Remember the 3 Rs; Refuse, Reuse and Recycle. Keep these three things in mind whenever you buy, use or discard anything. Put a notice next to your bin with the 3 R's on it.

 

No. 14 - Keep your water heater warm... There are a number of good energy saving Water Heater Jackets on the market ... check out our Do It Yourself Guides.

Buy through our Home Shop

Did you know? A good Heater Jacket could save you up to 15% of the cost of heating water. Now that's Jolly Wicked!

 

No. 15 - Consider replacing glass in your windows, or indeed the entire units if they are old. Glass technology has come a long way, keeping heat and cool air inside where it is needed.

Did you know? High quality glass will eliminate up to 99% of damaging ultraviolet rays and reduce the fading of your fine fabrics and furnishings. Think of the savings you will make.

 

OK, that's it ... we are looking for more ... can you help us? If you have an Energy Saving ideas - things you do to help reduce your carbon footprint and save money - tell us and everyone about it. Write and Submit an Article