Other measures
In addition to new heating systems, insulation and solar energy, there are more ways you can improve the energy efficiency of your home. On this page you can learn what these measures are, how they work, and how you can incorporate them into your home.
Smart heating controls
Smart heating controls allow the user to control their heating systems, from boilers to heat pumps, remotely through an app. By connecting to your wi-fi, smart heating controls ensure you can remain in control of your heating whenever, wherever. This means that if plans change, or the weather is unexpectedly warm, you can change the schedule of your heating and make sure you are saving energy you do not need to use.
Smart heating controls are typically installed alongside any energy efficient heating systems as standard. However, many older heating systems can still work with smart heating controls. If you are looking for an inexpensive step towards improving your energy efficiency, you may wish to contact a local installer and discuss whether smart heating controls may be right for your home.
Draughtproofing
In older properties, gaps between windows, doors and floorboards can leave space for cold draughts to enter your home. Small changes can have a massive impact; draughtproofing is simple, inexpensive, and can even be installed yourself.
Draughtproofing is the process of installing small layers of thin insulating material into gaps where draughts enter the home. This material blocks up these gaps, reducing unnecessary heat loss and saving you money on heating your home. You can purchase and install draughtproofing strips yourself, without the need for specialist help.
Low energy lighting and smart plugs
Lighting and standby appliances are a secretive extra chunk of our monthly electricity bill; low energy lighting and smart plugs help solve this problem. Old filament bulbs are no longer the most efficient way to light our homes; LED lights last longer and use less energy, meaning they’re a great investment for the home. New technologies mean you can even get them in the same warm lighting tones of a filament bulb. Additionally, smart plugs allow you to set times when your plugs are ‘on’. This saves energy typically lost by leaving appliances such as your TV on standby overnight. Both low energy lighting and smart plugs can be purchased online or in person, often at your local supermarket.
More information
If you’d like more information, or any guidance towards which measures would be most suitable for your home, there are non-profit organisations who can help.
You may wish to contact:
These organisations work within Sheffield to provide residents with tailored guidance around working towards a greener future.
Furthermore, most of the above measures, aside from smart plugs, can be received as part of grant schemes. If you qualify for those schemes and are looking into larger-scale improvements to your home, it may be worth speaking to your installer about whether these smaller measures could be included in your installation package.
If you have any further questions, you can contact us.