Energy Saving Tips
Check your insulation
Sometimes it is less about how much you are heating your house and more about how much of that heat is escaping from it. If you have gaps or poor insulation through which heat can escape then your heating won't be efficient. That is why the first tip is to check your insulation. A well-insulated home is cheaper and easier to heat.
Make sure your walls, roof cavity and floors all have insulation and that it meets the required minimum thickness for your area.
You should also check that all of your doors and windows seal well. If you notice your curtains moving when they are drawn then you probably have a draughty window. Fix broken frames and catches and fill any holes which have developed.
These steps will ensure the heat you generate remains inside your house and does not leak out.
All heat pumps/air conditioners also offer additional benefits, such as dehumidify and cooling functions, Most of them also have other useful features such as timers for switching them off and on or wifi control/app control so you can set them to warm the house before you come home.
Have a good heating system
Once you have your insulation sorted out, invest in a good, efficient heating system.
Some heaters only provide spot heating which means they only heat a fairly small area around them. These are heaters like fan heaters, oil fin heaters and panel heaters. It can take a long time for this type of heater to heat a whole room and you often need to be sitting right next to them to feel any benefit.
A correctly sized heat pump is by far the best option for electric heating. Most heat pumps or air conditioning units are 300% energy coefficient. This means that for every dollar of power they use they put out three times that amount of heating or cooling.
For example, if $1 of power warms a room up by 1 degree when using a standard fan heater, then a correctly sized heat pump would warm it by 3 degrees for the same money spent.
How to use your heating efficiently
How to use your heating efficiently
Using an efficient heating source is a great first step, but if you don’t then use that heating system well, you won’t notice the energy savings.
The first mistake that people make is turning their heat pump up to the maximum temperature to heat the room up quickly. The temperature setting on the remote is just like that of your oven. It has to reach that temperature and won't do it immediately.
If you set the temperature at a comfortably warm 18 to 20˚C, then the system will reach the set point quicker. Most modern systems are inverter type systems, so they will reduce the power they use as the temperature reaches the set point, therefore using less energy.
If you want the room to heat up faster close the doors and curtains in the room.
You also want to make sure that you only heat the areas that you live in. Close off the spaces that don’t need any heat. Something like a bathroom, toilet or laundry will zap the heat out of your living spaces for no real reason.
To ensure your system continues to run efficiently, get it serviced at least once a year. This will keep the filters and coils clean and the mechanisms running smoothly all winter long.
You should also remove the filters yourself every three months and dust them off to help keep them unblocked. This reduces the effort required by the heat pump to draw air into the system.
Energy efficient lighting
Replacing your existing downlights with new LED downlights can save you power in multiple ways. Firstly the power consumption is usually 10% of traditional downlights, so a standard traditional downlight has a 100W lamp whereas new LED lights are from 8W-12W.
The other advantage of LED downlights is that they are sealed so you don't have any heat loss through the gaps in the light fitting.
Additional energy savings ideas
Many daily household tasks like cooking, washing and showering create moisture. Installing an externally vented fan in your kitchen and bathroom is the most efficient way of getting rid of this moisture. Otherwise be sure to open a window during these activities.
If you can dry your clothes outside on a washing line or in a tumble dryer that is vented to the outside of your property. Indoor airing racks or non-vented dryers just add more moisture to your home.
Airing your home regularly is a good way of reducing moisture. When you are at home open the windows for some time each day, or several times during the day to let moisture out and fresh air in. You should even do this during winter, even though it might feel cold.
Sleeping with your bedroom window open a crack can also help as it lets out moisture that tends to build up while you are sleeping.
You should also air your bedding regularly, especially in winter when it might be damp. Hang duvets and pillows outside on the line on a sunny or windy day.
Avoid unflued gas heaters as these can release toxic fumes and make your house damp. If you can't afford a heat pump, then an inexpensive portable electric heater is a better option.
Look for overlooked areas of your home where you might be able to save energy. Heated towel rails are one of the things that often get forgotten. Leaving a heated towel rail on 24/7 can cost hundreds of dollars a year. Only turn the towel rail on when you need it. If you think you will forget and can't deal with chilly towels then buy a timer plug that you can set for certain times.
For more information regarding heat pump installation, installing ventilation systems or any of the topics mentioned above and other useful information, contact DBS Electrical.
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