Rising energy and living costs have everyone pinching their purse strings, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that you can do. While the first step you take should always be to make sure you’re aware of the latest government freezes and grants (and make sure you’re getting them), there are many other top ways to help keep your property (or you) warmer or cooler, depending on the season and your needs.
While some of these options are function only, many can be done so that they make your home look even better than before. From adding décor elements like rugs and tapestries to investing in long-term solutions like air conditioning, these are the top efficient and stylish ways to reduce your utilities this year:
Insulation
The best way to reduce utility costs and improve the overall comfort of your home is to improve or add insulation. Older properties, in particular, can be awful options regarding heat or cold retention. Regarding insulation, remember that you still need your property to breathe so that built-up moisture can be released and not cause condensation and mold growth in your home.
When adding more insulation, once again you’ll want to check to see if any grants are available to help you save on the costs. This is a simple, effective way of making your home more comfortable without adding bulky or ugly additions to your property
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If adding insulation isn’t in the cards right now, however, many budget-friendly alternatives can also be great for your décor. The answer lies in textiles. Add tapestries to external walls to insulate them better, or add thick, insulating curtains over your windows and doors. Choose great-looking options, and you can have the best of both worlds while also making it more efficient to heat or even cool your home.
Air Conditioning
If you’ve previously coped with heat waves with a mobile air conditioning unit, it’s time to upgrade significantly. To efficiently cool your home more, consider investing in a water cooled air conditioning. These can be installed in flats as well as Grade II listed buildings since they use condensation and drain the collected water down your pipes instead of requiring a large unit to be installed outside of your home. While it may seem like this is far from the most efficient option in terms of your utilities, a proper air conditioning unit like this comes with a AAA rating for electrical efficiency and is going to be the preferred option to cool your home for less in extreme heat.
As for the times when there isn’t a heat wave, try to bring in a cross breeze. You can even add brickwork or lattices outside of windows to force the wind through more compactly, which will then carry further through the home (like when you partially block off a hose).
Heating
When it comes to heating, you have a few important options. The first is to start with a lower home temperature (just don’t go below the recommended value, as too cold temperatures in the home can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease). The second step is to invest in some great, warm, and stylish blankets and rugs, which can help retrain heat in the home, particularly if you have a lot of tile or hardwood.
As for staying warm without putting your heating on, try bundling up more and snuggling in, and then consider an electric blanket. The cost of running an electric blanket will be far less than heating even a whole room of your property since you’ll just be heating yourself.
Of course, these tips are if your heating system is currently efficient. It may cost you a lot to run if it’s old. Once again, you’ll want to look into grants or other options to help you subsidize the cost of replacing your boiler so that you can benefit from lower ongoing costs now and into the future.
Swap Your Light Bulbs
If you have old light bulbs, it’s time to make a big switch. This is particularly true if you thought that all LEDs or other energy-efficient options were too bright white for your tastes. Those issues are long in the past. When shopping for these energy-efficient bulbs, look for warm-white options. There are options available on a scale from bright white to an almost yellow in terms of light warmth. Understanding what range you like best can help you save more without sacrificing on the overall ambiance of your room.
Get Solar
If you live in an area that experiences a lot of sunshine, then invest in solar. Solar is a great way to cut your utilities costs down significantly, especially when paired with an efficient battery. You can even get specific solar systems, like a solar water heater. Like other upgrade options in this list, there may be a grant or other government scheme to help you, so look into your options before paying full price.
Change Up Your Routine
Another easy way to lower your costs is to know when your lower energy cost periods are. For most homes, this is overnight since most people will be asleep, and there’s less pressure on the system overall. Simply adapt to get many of the energy-intensive chores out of the way during this period. For example, change your routine so that you dry your clothes, or, if you have a washer/dryer, wash and dry your clothes overnight. They’ll be done by the morning and will have cost less overall.
The same applies to dishwashers. Simply change up your routine, and you can save on everyday chores.
It may even be worth getting up half way through the night to change loads, so you can make the most out of this time, particularly if you’re someone who doesn’t sleep easily, or naturally wakes in the middle of the night anyway.
Think Old-School
Sometimes the best ways are the old ways, so if you want stylish ways to reduce your utilities, know it’s time to look into what people did in the past before electronic tools took it over. If running a dryer costs too much, for example, you could get a drying rack. A stylish, functional option for this is to get one installed directly onto the wall or ceiling and folded away when not in use. Not only will air drying your clothes help you save, but it can also extend the life of your clothes overall. Some items, like delicates, should never be dried in a drying machine as well, so if you have some items you’ve been sending to the dry cleaners at a premium cost, know this simple air drying solution can help you save on multiple fronts.
Use Landscaping
The final way that you can make a big impact on your utilities while also improving the look of your home is with landscaping. While those in apartments aren’t going to have the same options those with yards do, there are options for everyone. Use coniferous or evergreen trees and bushes along the walls of your home to block off cold winds as much as possible. If you have a low-profile home, you can invest in trees that, during summer, shade the roof to keep it cooler than otherwise.
As for flats, use those evergreen hedges against your balcony windows to help keep off harsh winds. In summer, you can also use climbing plants, short shrubs, and even small trees to help keep the direct sun from warming up your property too much.
