As temperatures drop, staying warm and comfortable indoors becomes a top priority for many. While concerns about gas and electricity prices may arise, there are numerous practical tips to ensure energy efficiency during the colder months.
Renowned organizer and television personality Dilly Carter shares some easy tasks to prepare your home for winter this weekend. Carter suggests starting with a smart meter, a valuable tool for monitoring energy consumption and identifying areas for potential savings.
Smart meters are provided by energy suppliers at no additional cost and offer real-time data on energy expenditure in pounds and pence. Carter emphasizes the importance of preventing heat loss in the living room as a key strategy for reducing energy expenses.
To achieve this, she recommends using draft excluders on doors, letterboxes, chimneys, and window seals, as well as opting for thicker curtains or affordable curtain liners to minimize heat loss through windows. Additionally, placing rugs on cold floors can help insulate the space, especially if there are draughty floorboards.
Ensuring proper air circulation is also crucial. Carter advises rearranging furniture to allow heat from radiators to flow freely. For homes with central heating, she suggests optimizing the heating timer to operate efficiently and warm up spaces only when necessary.
In terms of lighting, Carter suggests using lamps to create a cozy ambiance and turning lights off when not in use. Replacing old halogen bulbs with LED alternatives can significantly reduce lighting costs.
Carter emphasizes the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of these energy-saving measures, noting that small adjustments can make a big difference in keeping homes warm and energy-efficient throughout the winter. By identifying and addressing areas of heat loss, checking for draughts, and ensuring the optimal performance of radiators, homeowners can enhance comfort without major investments in energy-efficient technology.