3 ways your home might be losing energy (and how to fix them!)

It’s not fun being cold (or too warm!) in your own home. It’s also not fun paying an arm and a leg for power just to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to improve the insulation of your home and reduce heat loss. But first, you’ve got to know where all that wasted energy is actually going.

Not sure where to start? This article is for you. We’ve rounded up the four most common sources of energy loss in your home along with some simple fixes for creating a more energy efficient living space.

1. You’ve got the wrong curtains

If you live in an insulated house, you can lose more than 45 percent of your heat through your windows, according to Consumer. That number drops to 30 percent if you live in an uninsulated house, but only because it’s easier for the heat to escape through the ceiling, walls and floors!

Curtains are an effective way to combat this heat loss, but it’s important to remember that not all curtains are created equal. For best results, opt for heavy-lined or thermal curtains. They should be long enough that they bunch slightly on the floor to create a seal that traps the cold air that likes to sink down between the window and the curtain.

Get in the habit of drawing your curtains before the sun goes down to trap warm air indoors and keep your home nice and cosy, au naturel.

2. Cold air is coming in through your windows, doors or ceiling

Your heating and cooling systems have to work extra hard to regulate the temperature of your living spaces if you’ve got outside air seeping into your home.

So, take the time to thoroughly inspect your home for draughts, not only around your doors, but your windows, ceilings and skirting boards as well. Sometimes, a draught will be obvious - like when you inexplicably feel a whiff of cold air on your skin - but in most cases, it’ll be more subtle. When things get blustery outside, listen carefully for rattles and whistling noises, and keep a close eye out for curtains swaying in the wind. You could even hold a lit candle up to your doors and windows - if the flame starts to flicker, you’ll know a draught is nearby.

Creating a tighter seal can significantly boost the energy efficiency of your home. To combat draughts, seal up any cracks and holes with an appropriate sealant, which you can find at your local hardware store. Draught stopping tape can help reduce heat loss around your windows, while draught excluders are a cheap and cheerful way to create a tighter sealer around your doors.

4. You’re still using incandescent light bulbs

While lighting isn’t the biggest culprit when it comes to energy waste, it still accounts for about 12 percent of the average household’s electricity consumption - and finding ways to light up your life more efficiently can certainly help you save some money on your power bill.

The most important thing you can do to reduce your lighting energy costs is to ditch the incandescent bulbs once and for all. LEDs use around 80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs while producing the same light output. Yes, LEDs cost more up front, but the amount you save on power means that an LED will typically pay for itself in a little over a year. And, with an expected lifespan of 15,000 hours (compared to 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb), an LED bulb will keep paying for itself over and over (and over) again.

Building an energy efficient future

Creating a more energy efficient home isn’t all about expensive cutting-edge technology or sacrificing the creature comforts of modern living. Often, simple solutions can go a long way towards reducing heat loss and improving the overall energy efficiency of your property.

Looking for more ways to save on power? Maybe it’s time to make the switch to Grey Power Electricity. Give us a call today on 0800 473 976 or fill out our online enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.