As the cost of energy is rising it may be a good time to look at ways to reduce your bills. Making your home more efficient is also good for the environment, and as new building regulations are considered to help fight the climate crisis, making eco-friendly decisions now could help to future-proof your property. There are small things we can all do to save energy consumption at home, such as purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs, keeping appliances switched off when not in use, and reducing draughts. However, in this guide we’re going to be focusing on the bigger upgrades you can make to potentially save money and reduce your carbon footprint over the long term. Most of these upgrades are not cheap, and if you need to raise finance you may want to consider remortgaging. You will have to pay interest on any money you release by remortgaging, but as interest rates are generally lower than many other forms of borrowing, this can be a more affordable way to raise funds. To find out how much you could borrow and what rates are available to you please book in for a FREE initial consultation. In this guide, we’ll explain six ways you could upgrade your home to make it more eco-friendly and potentially reduce your energy bills over the long term.
1. Upgrade your insulation
A lack of proper insulation can be responsible for up to 40% of the heat lost from a property. Upgrading the insulation in your loft and wall cavities could help you save more than £150* a year in energy bills. Solid wall insulation can be a little more tricky and expensive compared to a cavity wall, but it could still be worth considering.
2. Upgrade your windows
Windows can account for over 10% of the heat lost from your home, so at a bare minimum, you should try and upgrade to double-glazed windows if possible. But there are even better options available such as triple-glazed windows, glazed windows with low heat-conductivity gas inside them, and even windows made from Low-E glass which actively reflect heat back into your home.
3. Consider underfloor heating
Due to the larger surface area, underfloor heating (UFH) runs at far lower temperatures than traditional radiators, and when installed properly, it tends to be around 15-40% more efficient**. Installing UFH will involve pulling up your old flooring, so this is likely only an option if you are considering a full eco-friendly renovation.
4. Buy energy-efficient appliances
Not all appliances are made equal, and older models tend to use quite a bit more energy than newer ones. According to Which!, replacing old kitchen appliances with the latest energy-efficient models could save you up to £425 each year***.
5. Invest in solar panels
Solar panels aren’t cheap, so this really is a long-term investment and one that may be more suitable for people looking to make their home more eco-friendly rather than just save money on electricity bills. On thing to note is that some mortgage lenders do not like solar panels, therefore we recommend you speak to your lender or mortgage broker before having them installed.
6. Invest in a heat pump
Similar to solar panels, a heat pump will involve a fairly hefty upfront cost, but installing one should reduce your gas bill and provide a fully renewable source of heat for your home. Heat pumps extract energy either from the ground or from the air to heat your home without the need for a conventional boiler.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking to reduce your energy bills over the long term, as well as your carbon footprint, you may want to consider some of the energy-efficient upgrades detailed in this guide. Most of these do require upfront costs, but if reducing your energy consumption is important to you, they may be worthwhile. If you need to raise finance to fund eco-friendly renovations, remortgaging could be an affordable option available to you. It’s worth seeing what rates are available to you from other lenders before making any decisions –
switching to a new provider could save you money. Book a FREE initial chat to see what rates are available to you and how much you could borrow.
We’ve been helping our local community with remortgages for over 30 years! We search thousands of products to find a deal that suits your needs. We also guide you through the process and liaise with all parties to help your remortgage go smoothly.
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Think carefully before securing any other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage.
