Start at Home with Steps to a Greener Lifestyle

Epcs4u.com offers simple tips for a more energy efficient home, and lower fuel bills

Know your Energy Performance Rating with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
To kick start a going-green initiative you need to know where your home may be letting you down. Find a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor who can audit your home and produce a report that will clearly rate areas where energy efficiency is poor and therefore those that are costing you the most money in fuel (energy) consumption. The Rating will highlight the energy efficiency potential of your home and show how to achieve this better rating in both fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions. On average, it is estimated that following the recommendations made by an EPC will save over £300 per year on fuel (energy) bills.
Invest in improving loft and wall insulation
Homes without loft insulation typically cost their owner around an additional £220 per year in fuel bills as the home does not retain as much heat. This also means that carbon dioxide emission is higher than it should be. Fitting, or replacing old loft insulation, not only reduces the energy required to heat your home, but also saves money on energy (fuel) bills and lowers the carbon footprint of your home. Similar savings can be made by installing cavity wall insulation. There are also systems available for insulating solid walls.
Upgrade your boiler
Old boilers are around 55% energy efficient, whilst new (industry rated as 'A') condensing boilers commonly reach over 90% efficiency. This means that you will be reducing your carbon dioxide emissions on average by 1.25tonnes per year and achieve up to a 40% saving on annual fuel bills. That means a lower environmental impact, plus significant cost savings on energy bills.
Upgrade your heating controls
There is no point in turning your thermostat down if it is not working accurately. Having the correct heating and hot water controls and knowing how to use them properly is a great way of instantly improving the efficiency of any central heating system and can cut your fuel costs by up to 17%
Upgrade your hot water cylinder
If your hot water storage cylinder is over 10 years old it could be full of scale. New cylinders are made to a much higher specification with thicker insulation and quicker heat up times to help save energy. Water usage and wastage should also be kept under control – don't leave taps dripping!
Check domestic appliances are energy saving recommended
Energy efficient domestic appliances such as kettles, toasters and even PCs are all available to buy – take a look for the blue 'energy saving recommended' logo on all new purchases and upgrade old, inefficient models.
Replace all lightbulbs with energy saving ones
It’s the most simple lifestyle change to make, but an important one nevertheless. As well as being more efficient, low energy lightbulbs can also shave around £20 off your annual fuel bills.
Install Energy Efficient double glazing
Installing the latest double glazing with low emissivity coated glass can save up to £100 per year on fuel bills. Windows are now energy rated A to G like fridges and boilers with "A" rated being the best. Also look out for "energy saving recommended" windows.
Request a green energy tariff from your energy provider(s)
In the UK over two-thirds of home electricity is still generated by coal and gas based power stations releasing extensive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Many energy providers are investing in alternative resources – green tariffs. This means your fuel will be produced from a majority of renewable resources and therefore have a lesser impact on the environment.
Find out if your mortgage provider will offer you a 'green mortgage'
If you carry out home improvement works, as recommended in the Energy Performance Certificate assessment of your home, then you may be eligible for a green mortgage. This is where mortgage providers recognise the green and financial benefits to a more fuel efficient home and will offer funds to allow these enhancements, or incentives to carry them out as part of your existing mortgage.
Offset the carbon footprint of your home
Once you have the Energy Performance Certificate of your home and you have carried out all the above improvements it is then that you should consider the installation of renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal panels to provide hot water heated by the sun or photovoltaic (PV) panels which use the sun to generate electricity. If your still feeling guilty about the size of your carbon footprint then you can use a credible carbon offsetting scheme to replace the carbon you are responsible for – but make sure it is a reputable scheme.
Don’t stop here though – keep reading for ways to reduce your carbon footprint in the first place.
Send your patio heater on a long holiday to the re-cycling centre
We have never understood the logic of heating the outside of the home. If you are really concerned with climate change issues and reducing the burning of fossil fuels then consider if you really need a patio heater, and if you do have one it would love to be taken to the re-cycling centre.