Energy prices are currently at an all time high and this is only set to get worse as it is like to increase further over the next 12 months. So many people are already struggling to keep up with the rising prices and this does not appear to be a short term issue. The best way to help navigate this issue is to try and reduce the amount of energy you use and one way in which you can do this is to insure that your home is well insulated so during the winter months, when most of us use more electricity and gas to heat out homes, you retain as much heat as possible.

There are a number of ways in which you can improve the energy efficiency within your home but opting for insulated doors and windows is one of them. You may be surprised as to how much heat can actually be lost through your front door. It may be time to replace or upgrade your door to a better insulated one. Although there is an upfront cost for this, you may find that overtime you more than make this money back in saved money on your energy bills.

So many of us are going to be hit by huge hikes in energy prices in October and possibly again in April. These rises could cost the average household around one hundred and fifty pounds up to two hundred pounds extra per year.

For many people who still also may be recovering due to loss of income following Covid, this could not of come at a worse time.

It is important to try and cut down on your energy usage to try and reduce the amount you will need to pay as for many companies it is the energy kilowatt cost that is going up not the standing charges. Just making a few small changes every day can help to slash your bills.

Whenever possible, try and hang your clothes out on the line to dry. Fresh air is free but using your tumble dry may cost around fifty pence per hour.

Turning all lights off when leaving a room again is a very small change but over the course of a year could see money knocked of your bill. If you have gas central heating then try and avoid putting it on too early and drop the thermostat down a degree or two.

Energy efficiency helps homes to stay warm in the coldest months of the year. This is very good news indeed for your heating bills and for your general comfort. Here are some ways to help dramatically improve energy efficiency within your home:

• Choose a wood burning stove to heat your house. This provides energy from a renewable source, rather than you having to rely on gas or electric central heating.
• Get new doors and windows. This include garage doors, which are notorious for letting out heat. Choose a quality material with good thermal performance, like PVC or fibreglass.
• Install rooflights. These will help to reduce the need for artificial light, especially in the winter when things can feel a bit dull and drab.
• Get solar panels. They will allow you to generate you own energy.

All of these solutions are big fixes and will not be cheap from the outset. However, they will soon pay for themselves.

Once we think about stoves, we consider the cooking home appliance. We won’t discuss that in this post. Here, we’re going to discuss the enclosure where you burn gas to heat your room. If you haven’t seen a stove before but you are planning on buying one, don’t worry. We’re here to give you some advice on purchasing contemporary stoves.

Stoves are necessary if you live in cold areas. Not like an open fire that transfers 70% of the heat to the ceiling, stoves emit heat evenly over the room. With contemporary UK stoves, you can also control the amount of fuel they burn and the quantity of heat they emit. For people with a modern-style home, select contemporary stove styles. Modern stoves serve as centrepieces to a place or attach them to walls. Here are some things you should consider when selecting contemporary stoves. (more…)

One thing that makes verandas so very important in any home is the fact that it is the one part that combines both the indoors and the outdoors. That way, if you are an outdoors person you don’t have to go very far to get in touch with the outdoors. And if you are an indoors person, you get to enjoy fresh air and clear skies without having to leave your comfort zone. With these and many other perks to look forward to, there is no denying the fact that verandas give every house the required extra special touch. Combing verandas with canopies is one great way to turn this outdoor-indoor transition space into a perfect hang-out spot for you, your friends and family. Below are tips on how to work with these two for the best effects.  (more…)