As we progress into autumn, we wave goodbye to the summer, and cast our eyes to the winter that lies ahead. With the cold temperatures looming over us, and energy bills still on the rise, staying warm on a budget is on a lot of people’s minds. Luckily, we’ve created the perfect guide to staying warm this winter without having to use more energy than you need to. Additionally, we’ve outlined ways you can maintain sustainable practices at home or in a commercial setting to help protect the environment. To find out more about staying warm this winter, keep on reading!
The Energy Crisis
The cost-of-living crisis has been impacting homes and businesses across the UK, with many struggling to keep up with such high prices. Oil, gas and electricity markets have been increasing prices since the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, and the inflation has continued to rise.
For most people living in the UK, inflation has been causing genuine concern for many people, with almost 6 million homes currently in fuel poverty. A range of factors has influenced this exponential rise in prices such as gas price increases, supply chain disruptions, and an increased demand for products which has resulted in a strain on energy sources.
For many homes, finding the money to make ends meet during this inflation period has been a challenge. Keep reading to hear our words of advice for tackling the energy crisis this winter.
Ways To Reduce Your Energy Use & Stay Warm
Whether you’re thinking about your household, or your commercial property, staying warm as the cold months approach is a genuine concern for many. We’ve created a list of tips that can help you to be more conscious of your energy usage, while taking action to keep your property warm.
Minimise Draughty Areas
Draughts and gaps in doors can often be the number one culprit for heat loss in buildings. If your building is relatively new, heat may be escaping through windows, floorboards or other areas you aren’t aware of. Tackling this before winter hits is definitely the best course of action so that you aren’t wasting energy and money during the colder seasons.
You can invest in professional draught management which could end up costing approximately £200 and this can help you save up to £25 a year on your energy bills.
Heating Controls
Upgrading your heating controls to smarter, faster options that are available is another good way to reduce your spending while keeping on top of the temperature.
With a range of smart thermostats and other control options from your phone, managing the temperature of your property has never been easier. You can set timers, increase and decrease the temperature in a matter of seconds and give you an easy level of control.
Smart thermostats are also useful because they try to avoid going over target temperatures, and they learn how fast your home heats up so that the boiler can be switched off at just the right moment to avoid wasting energy.
Boiler Replacement
Modern boilers are far more efficient than older models, so if your boiler is over 10 years old, or is having visible problems, it may be time to get a replacement. Replacing your boiler could vary in price, however investing in a more economical and efficient model will help you to save money in the long run. Having a run down boiler or an older model in the colder months can make it difficult to heat up your building and waste a lot of energy unnecessarily.
If you’re interested in a commercial boiler replacement, you can read more about this on our website.
Insulation
Insulation is a staple for maintaining the temperature of a building. Whether it’s warm or cold, insulation can help to keep a stable temperature all year round.
During colder months, insulation is a good asset for keeping heat inside your building. Cavity walls and solid walls with appropriate insulation can help you to save lots on your energy bills, and quality insulation should last you anywhere between 20-80 years. This is dependent on the quality of insulation, installation process and whether it sustains any damage.
Standby
This is slightly irrelevant to keeping heat in, however it is an important factor for helping you save on your energy costs. Putting electronics into standby, turning plug sockets off at the wall and ensuring electrical devices are properly turned off is vital to saving energy. Even simple tasks such as leaving lights on can impact the amount you are spending on electricity and being mindful of this can help you to save money over time.
Lighting
If you haven’t switched to LED, energy-efficient lighting, it’s a great way to save on your lighting costs, especially in commercial settings. You can also invest in energy efficient lighting for your domestic property, and these lightbulbs can bring your bills down drastically.
They come in a range of shapes, sizes so they can fit into most properties seamlessly. If you do have LED lights installed, you should still be conscious of turning them off when you are not using them to save energy.
Radiators
You can invest in radiator reflector panels which are a cost effective and low maintenance option for saving heat in your building. They’re installed behind your radiator and they reflect the heat given out by your heating system back into the room. This means your building actually gets warmer for the same amount of energy.
They are relatively low-cost so they are not a large investment and they only need to go on external walls to reflect heat back into the room.
Why Should I Be Reducing My Energy Usage?
Reducing your energy usage is good for a handful of reasons, but the two that impact us directly are:
Energy Prices
It’s no secret that energy bills are on the rise and will continue to increase throughout the rest of the year. With a cold and long winter inevitably ahead of us, reducing your energy usage will definitely help you spend less on your bills during the colder months. As we’ve already discussed, there are ways to manage your home or business’s energy usage while still keeping warm. Investing in smart metres and other energy management systems can also help you to manage your spending on bills.
The Environment
The other outcome that comes from reducing our energy usage is the impact it has on the environment. Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and commercial energy production is great for the environment, lowering the amount of greenhouse gases and other pollutants that are affecting our climate. If we don’t start addressing the problems caused by our energy consumption, our climate will only become more and more damaged over time.
Sustainability: Why Is It Important?
When it comes to sustainability and conserving energy, saving money on our bills and expenditures is only one half of the benefits. For homes and businesses struggling to keep up with the financial demands of the energy crisis, saving money and energy is important during the colder months.
On the other side of this, prioritising energy saving practices is extremely important for sustainability and protecting the environment. Both homes and businesses should be working towards creating a healthier, safer environment. Pollutants from our burning of fossil fuels, car emissions, deforestation and other harmful activities are damaging our environment drastically. By making more eco-conscious choices, we can reduce our energy use massively, making a positive impact on your wallet and the planet.
Mitchells: From Commercial Electricians To Boiler Replacements
Here at Mitchell’s we offer a range of services for your commercial air conditioning, heating, ventilation or refrigeration needs. You can browse our range of services here on our website. If you’re looking for reliable and professional commercial services, we are here to help.
We pride ourselves on ‘creating environments that work’ and are committed to leaving all our clients satisfied. For further enquiries about our services or how we can help, feel free to contact us today to speak to our team directly!