There are many reasons that homeowners may be looking to complete energy efficient home improvement projects such as installing double glazing and fitting insulated garage doors.
With the majority of homeowners falling into the categories of “looking to have lower utility bills each month” or “wishing to reduce the overall environmental impact the family has on the planet” there are now many solutions available that are readily available and cost far less than you may imagine, especially when you factor in the long-term cost savings.
Whilst many home improvement projects tend to focus on improving the look of our homes in the desire to make them more appealing and valuable and think nothing of spending vast amounts of money on the latest kitchen or bathroom, the same cannot be said about improving the thermal efficiency of our homes.
6 Energy Efficient Home Improvement Projects
Although there are many ways of increasing energy efficiency within the home, some projects and solutions are far more effective than others and it tends to be homes that feature a range of solutions that reap the most rewards.
Here are the 6 most effective ways of reducing the amount of energy when making home improvements:
Insulate the Ceilings
As heat rises inside the home, unless there are adequate levels of insulation in place to trap it inside the building, then it will keep on rising out of the roof and be wasted. For many years, energy efficient homes were not considered important and as such the majority of older homes tend not to be insulated very well, if at all.
To counter this problem, the installation of loft insulation into the roof space will significantly reduce heat loss making the home much easier to heat and a far more comfortable environment for the occupants. To achieve the best performance, the insulation should be laid to a depth of at least 300mm.
Insulate the Walls
Without major renovations works being carried out, it is very difficult to insulate an old home with solid walls. However, the same cannot be said about cavity walls. Whilst modern homes are built with fully insulated cavity walls, a large number of properties built around the 1960’s were constructed with a cavity but feature no insulation.
If you live in this age of the home, it is possible to have insulation blown into the wall using specialist equipment. Once fully installed, the home will become more efficient to the elements as it will of had an insulating layer placed around the external walls.
Install Double Glazing
Modern double glazed units installed into energy efficient frames will help reduce heat loss significantly. Some units are even available with triple glazing or argon filled gas and achieve much higher levels of performance but the cost is often prohibitive to the average homeowner.
Double glazing will also help to reduce the noise levels entering the house, which is useful if you live near sources of noise such as buy roads or pubs and clubs.
Replace or Service the Central Heating
With this being the source of all the homes heat, it makes sense to ensure the system runs as effectively as possible in order to maximize energy efficiency. If you cannot afford to upgrade to a more modern boiler, be sure to have a professional service the existing one.
In addition to this, install thermostatic valves to the radiators that allow for the individual control of each rooms temperature and a timer to the boiler so it only fires up as required.
Install Solar Shading
The installation of shading over bright windows and doors during the summer months will reduce the amount of heat entering the home.
With the most popular solution being some form of an awning, the fabric filters the heat meaning that air conditioning units do not need to run as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Install Insulated Garage Doors
Unlike a traditional garage door constructed from a thin sheet of steel, modern energy efficient doors such as insulated garage roller doors or sectional garage doors feature a thick and dense foam filled core that has been specifically designed to provide high levels of performance.
Where homes adjoin the garage, this is an essential product as heat will no longer be able to escape from the home as before.
