How to make a home more energy efficient

As more Britons look to reduce their own impact on the environment by going green, leading an eco-friendly lifestyle is increasingly becoming the mainstream, one writer has asserted.

Indeed, writing for the Times, Francesca Steele stated that one of the main motivations driving this sea-change is the fact that an over reliance on utilities is something which is now negatively impacting households, with gas and electricity bills rising and Ofgem warning that the country may have to brace itself for energy blackouts in the years to come.

The energy watchdog has also asserted that utility bills are likely to rise in price by 60 per cent by 2016, which could be an added financial burden many Britons feel they will simply not be able to stretch to.

"It's enough to make you turn off the lights and the heating and hole up on the sofa in a sustainably-produced dressing gown to watch Kevin McCloud's Grand Tour on repeat - unless there's a blackout," said Ms Steele.

So just what can consumers do to ensure that their energy bills do not leave them struggling to make ends meet?

She explains Kevin McCloud, presenter of Channel 4's Grand designs, is set to fund the development of 42 eco-friendly homes in Swindon, which may inspire homeowners that going green is increasingly coming into vogue.

In the spirit of the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Saving Week - which kicks off on October 19th - Ms Steele offers people a number of tips to make sure their own homes are not needlessly wasting energy and adding to the UK's carbon emissions.

The first step is to boost insulation, both in lofts and cavity walls, which she claims will allow central heating to do a more efficient job as heat will not be lost through the walls or roof of a building, resulting in the average annual energy bill dropping by £250.

Following this, the next step, according to Ms Steele, is to purchase some form of renewable energy technology.

This could be a ground or air source heat pump or a set of rooftop solar panels, both of which can give traditional central heating systems a boost.

It has previously been reported that the government hopes to soon allow people who produce their own power using renewable energy technology to sell any they do not use back to the National Grid. In addition to this, as the appliances mean that households are no so reliant on fossil fuels, utilities can be significantly reduced.

Ms Steele reminds homeowners that no matter what their budget, there will be some green improvements they could make to their home. She suggests that bathroom suites could receive a boost with the addition of an eco-shower head to ensure that less water is wasted.

Meanwhile, radiators in all rooms, whether they are vertical, designer or traditional, can also be made more efficient with a little bit of DIY know-how.

"You could also add a magnetic foil strip to the back of your radiator to make it more efficient. But don't forget to close your windows," she notes, as heat from radiators can be swiftly lost if windows are left open. Should people feel their homes are too warm, it could be both more economical and environmentally-friendly to turn down the central heating thermostat a couple of degrees, than to open a window.

Indeed, the Energy Saving Trust recommends turning down the thermostat by one degree Celsius to save £60 on annual utility bills.

Roger Hunt, co-author of Old House Handbook, tells the Times: "The bottom line is that eco homes can make a difference to the homeowner. They are cheaper and more comfortable to live in. They will also help the entire population to become more energy secure, so that we can worry less about unsustainable sources running out."

All this plus the promise of lower energy bills may prompt Britons to go green sooner rather than later.