So, you know about energy efficiency, don’t you? You might have read about it, perhaps it was on the news, maybe your neighbour talked about it… but of course, that kind of thing is expensive and difficult, so it’s probably not something you’re able to really do at home.
Or at least, that’s what you might think. The reality is that anyone can be more energy efficient, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot – in fact, there are some great DIY options that are easy and will really make a difference. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more.
Curtains
One of the easiest ways to make your home more energy efficient is to use curtains – and since they’re something you’ll probably want anyway, it’s a case of being able to tick a good few items off your to-do list in one go.
Get some made to measure curtains so they fit your space perfectly and don’t leave any gaps for draughts to get through, and that’s already a good start (if draughts are coming into your home, it’s going to make your heating less efficient, costing you more and meaning you use more energy as a result). If you want even better results, get curtains with an extra lining and you’ll be able to keep all your heat inside where it belongs and save on your energy bills at the same time as protecting the planet.
Light Bulbs
Light bulbs are small but mighty when it comes to energy efficiency, and if you can swap your standard bulbs for LED versions, you’ll improve your home’s efficiency immediately. LEDs use as much as 80 percent less energy than a traditional bulb, and they also last a lot longer – potentially decades.
There is a small downside to changing your bulbs – the cost. LEDs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but since they last for so much longer and use a lot less energy, in the end you’ll probably find you save money because you won’t have to buy replacement bulbs so often and your electricity bill will be lower.
Rugs
Wooden or laminate floors – perhaps even tiles – are very popular these days, with carpets being seen as a little bit old fashioned. Trends come and go, and if you’re keeping up with them, you may well have ripped up the carpet and now have floorboards or something similar in your home instead. Not a problem in general, and it will look fabulous, but when it comes to energy efficiency, it’s not ideal.
Carpets are great insulators, so that means you’ll generally use less heating when you’ve got them as your home will stay warmer, and that means if you don’t have carpets, you’ll be using more energy – it makes sense. The solution is a simple one – you can have rugs on top of your bare floors as a great compromise. In this way, you can be more energy efficient and still enjoy the wood or tiles on your floors, so it’s a fantastic way to go.