Thirteen clever ways to be more energy efficient at home

General household changes

1. Use smart meters

Want to see exactly how much energy you’re using and what it costs? Invest in a smart meter with your energy supplier!

This modern tool can track your energy usage which can help you make small changes to reduce your bills, all of which is visible with the In-Home Display (IHD) which comes with your smart meter. This shows households their energy use in near-real time!

Plus, with the smart meter sending you readings automatically, it’s a hassle-free way to get more accurate bills without having to leave the sofa!

2. Draught excluder

Keep cold draughts out the house with a simple draught excluder, which is another cost-effective way to retain the heat and tackle unwanted winter chills from doors and windows. It doesn’t have to be the gaudy floral ones from your grandparents’ house though - check out these chic and modern designs!

3. Pale colours

Decorating your house with pale colours makes a huge difference as soft tones reflect more light. So you should get away with using lower wattage bulbs and still achieve the same levels of brightness! White, beige and light grey colours are the way to go.

4. Charge your electronic devices at work

If you’re a busy family its likely you’ll have multiple devices charging at home, a cheeky tip would be to charge these at work! You’ll be saving heaps of energy without even realising. Leaving your smartphone charging overnight uses hours of energy that doesn’t need to be used – an iPhone takes in fact 1.5 hours maximum to reach 100% battery level!

5. Move in with your partner

Ok, so this one’s a bit of a big change but if you’ve been considering living with your other half why not take the plunge now, you’ll be cutting your energy and living costs up to half!

Kitchen changes

9. Air fryers

The latest craze of air fryers has transformed the way people use their kitchen! As well as cooking food up to 50 per cent faster, it reduces the amount of times you need to turn the oven on, saving those all-important pennies.

Plus you don’t need to spend a fortune. This one from Currys will only set you back £40 and is worth it in the long run!

10. Conscious cooking

Cooking consciously can also save you more water than you think, for example steaming vegetables instead of boiling requires a lot less water. Then once you’ve cooked your pasta or vegetables, rather than dumping your cooking water down the drain, let it cool and use it to water your garden.

11. Eco mode

Many homeowners have dishwashers as it saves a lot of time washing up.It’s commonly known that a dishwasher is more energy-efficient than washing by hand, as it uses 50% less water than a full sink.

But lots of people shamelessly don’t know how to use every function and feature of their kitchen appliance! Check if your dishwasher has an ECO mode to help minimise the energy used in the process or try to use a half load setting for smaller amounts of dishes.

A new home!

13. Buy a new-build

New research based on Government Energy Performance Certificate data has found that buyers of a new build house will save on average around £2,600 a year in energy bills.

The research found that new build properties significantly reduce households’ energy usage, with the average new home using approximately 100 kWh per m2 per year compared with older properties which require an average of 259kWh per m2.

What’s more, in a recent report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), it was found that 95 per cent of new build properties are rated A-C for energy efficiency. So, it’s a no-brainer that if you’re in the market for a new home, a new build property is the way to go!

Visit our website to find your new energy-efficient home: https://www.avanthomes.co.uk/