The National Grid is set to deploy its emergency scheme for the first time, with hundreds of thousands of households set to be paid to use less electricity to avoid a nation-wide blackout. This comes as Britain’s cold temperatures and soaring energy demand continue to exacerbate fears of a supply shortage, with the national power operator rolling out precautionary measures to maintain the country’s energy supply. Ofgem’s recent announcement that the average energy price cap is set to increase by 21% in April – bringing the typical yearly household bill to £3,000 – is set to further pull on purse strings across the UK.
To assist households struggling with soaring energy prices, property expert and CEO of Livlet – the UK’s first intelligent home management platform – Dasha Klyachko, outlines how to keep your home as energy efficient as possible in the depths of one of the country’s most severe energy crisis on record.
Install a high efficiency gas boiler:
Unless your home is well insulated, heating can account for over 60% of your home’s typical energy consumption. By improving the efficiency of your boiler, you can save as much as 25% of your heating energy. Upgrading a low efficiency boiler to a new boiler with an ERP Rating of A could save you between £50-£135 per year on heating bills depending on your home type, existing boiler and heating profile. It could also reduce your household carbon emissions by 420-870kg per year.
Install a smart home meter for an in-house display on your energy management:
Installing a smart meter will allow your energy supplier to obtain automatic and accurate readings of your energy use. In line with the UK’s national smart meter rollout which states that all homes should have a smart meter by 2025, this means that households will only be billed for their actual energy use. Even more importantly, this will allow you to visualise and adapt your heating and electricity behaviour to reduce your energy consumption.
Upgrade your appliances to more efficient models:
Opting for more energy efficient appliances in terms of washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, fridges, kettles, televisions and computers, can help with reducing energy and water consumption. For example, a refrigerator rated A+++ would use 60% less energy than an A rated refrigerator – equivalent to a saving of around £40 annually, and approximately a 60kg reduction in carbon emission.
Using a programmable thermostat:
A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature in your home to automatically adjust when you are not there, so you are not heating an empty house. Smart thermostatic radiator valves are also a good bet if your property has radiators, combining a programmer, thermostat and local temperature control to achieve the right temperature per space and only heat the rooms you want to. They’ll typically be accompanied by an app or each radiator can be programmed manually.
Keep on top of your home management:
Ineffective home upkeep could cost homeowners up to £13,500 in structural damage and an additional £4,000 for a full rewire if your property’s electrics have been neglected for a long period of time, according to Unbiased. Livlet recommends that homeowners save 1-4% of their home’s value each year to spend on maintenance and repairs in order to prevent any additional costs that appears in the long run. The platform also helps users by advising on the best time to carry out certain tasks, such as seasonal upkeeps or regularly spaced-out safety checks.
