Do you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home? April is National Home Improvement Month. Inspiring UK homeowners to dream and think about on one thing that they could and will change in their home.
According to homeimprovementmonth.co.uk, the room that most UK homeowners would like to make one change in is the kitchen.
What energy saving measures could make a difference for your kitchen?
Larger home repairs can make the most difference. If your kitchen floor is cold, floor insulation and/or underfloor heating (maybe in tandem with a heat pump installation) could be the best option for you. Almost all kitchens have external walls. Is your home benefitting from external, internal, or cavity wall insulation? Insulation can make a large difference in the amount of cold air that gets in.
If you are renting or in social housing, there are still plenty of ways you can save energy in the kitchen. Is your washing machine in the kitchen? If you live in an average UK household, washing your clothes at 30 degrees instead of at 40 degrees, can save you £24/year and does not impact the effectiveness of the washing cycle. However, if you live in a larger family or believe you wash your clothes more often than normal for other reasons (Do you ever have enough school uniforms?), this amount of savings could be even higher.
Other kitchen tips and tricks –
- Turning off the unused outlets, which can save up to £45/year. There are some appliances that need to stay on, such as the fridge, but other machines, like the microwave, kettle, or coffee machine can be switched off each night combining to make a bigger savings.
- Switching to LED bulbs saves around £3-4/year per bulb and do not need changed nearly as often as the old style of lightbulb, making them an energy saving investment that pays itself off quickly.
- Putting a radiator reflector behind the kitchen radiator, cooking with lids on your pans.
- Fitting an aerator to your kitchen tap.
- Using a universal plug while washing vegetables.
- Only filling up the kettle with the exact amount you need, will each save energy and money.
We are here to help. If you have further questions, or would like a free, personal, in-depth energy advice session, please Get in touch and one of our energy advisers will be get back to you to discuss your situation and help find the best possible solutions for you.