In the current economic conditions, it makes sense to look at the actions we can take to improve our homes’ heatproofing. With the nights drawing in and temperatures beginning to drop, the reality of expensive fuel bills is already becoming an unwelcome reality. Although the government has sought to mitigate the impact via the energy price guarantee to cap the cost of how much we can be charged per unit of energy (kWh)1, if we want to keep those costs down, apart from cutting our use of power, we can be proactive by making our houses as energy efficient as possible.

There are a number of ways we can help ourselves in keeping our energy expenditure down by making our homes heatproof, some of which don’t have to cost large sums.

Check for draughts

It’s worth checking your property for draughts, just to identify any areas where heat may be leaving the building and plug these where possible, such as with a draught excluder for any external doors, which can be bought for between £5-£20 at a DIY outlet. For internal doors, you can make your own temporary solution with rolled up towels or clothes in a laundry bag or equivalent. Also, don’t forget your letterbox!

Window improvement

Of course, double glazing is an option, but not everyone can afford it and those inrented accommodation are unlikely to persuade their landlords to take immediate action. Simple, cheap fixes can include fixing clingfilm to the inside of windows or fitting glass or clear plastic in the window frame as DIY secondary double glazing.

How about the loft?

According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), a properly insulated attic can save between £355 – £590 per annum depending on the house being semi-detached or detached2. Although it can cost around £630 to insulate the loft of a detached house, the cost can be kept down by buying the rolls of mineral wool and fitting it yourself. Also, your energy supplier might be offering free insulation and fitting under the energy company obligation (ECO)3 – worth checking out.

Sources

BBC (2022) What is the energy price cap and what will happen to bills? Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58090533 (Accessed 21 October 2022)
Energy Saving Trust (2022) Roof and loft insulation. Available at: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/roof-and-loft-insulation/ (Accessed 21 October 2022)
OFGEM (2022) Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Available at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco (Accessed 21 October 2022)
All the information in this article is correct as of the publish date 24th November 2022. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. The information provided in this article, including text, graphics and images does not, and is not intended to, substitute advice; instead, all information, content and materials available in this article are for general informational purposes only. Information in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.