{"id":32839,"date":"2020-07-16T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T10:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/?p=32839"},"modified":"2023-10-11T13:01:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T12:01:43","slug":"energy-efficiency-eco-improvements-for-your-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/energy-efficiency-eco-improvements-for-your-home","title":{"rendered":"8 ideas to make your home more energy efficient"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By making eco-friendly improvements in your home, you could save upwards of \u00a3300 a year on your bills and help cut carbon emissions. Here are 8 of the top energy efficiency jobs that you could get done in your home, with the help of a local tradesperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for a quicker way to start saving energy and money? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/promoting-diversity-in-house-plumbing-and-heating\">Nathan from INHOUSE Plumbing and Heating<\/a> shares actionable advice that you can implement yourself ahead of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 ways to save money on your heating bills | Energy saving tips\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3iHyORLdYUY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-tradespeople\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL TRADESPERSON<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8 green home improvements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Energy-efficient doors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/07\/eco-ideas-1-doors.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153550\/eco-ideas-1-doors.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153550\/eco-ideas-1-doors-486x332.jpg 486w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153550\/eco-ideas-1-doors-220x150.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A draughty room is not only\nuncomfortable to sit in, but it can push your energy bills up as you\u2019re likely\nto turn up the heating to feel more comfortable indoors. Energy-efficient doors\noffer great thermal insulation, keeping warm air in and preventing too much cold\nair from working its way inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Energy-efficient doors are compliant with the latest Part L building regulation, which contains strict requirements relating to the conservation of fuel and energy. So, you can be reassured that your door is expert approved. A local door fitter can help you find the best energy-efficient door for your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-wooden-doors-internal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL DOOR FITTER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Solar thermal panels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/10\/ghg-solar-thermal.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/10\/19165054\/ghg-solar-thermal.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/10\/19165054\/ghg-solar-thermal-488x332.jpg 488w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/10\/19165054\/ghg-solar-thermal-220x150.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a renewable energy source, solar thermal energy is great for the environment. Solar thermal panels use a little bit of electricity to capture the sun\u2019s energy and use it for solar water heating. They can provide around half of your hot water use, according to <a aria-label=\"Simple Energy Advice (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk\/pages\/low-carbon-heating-options\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Simple Energy Advice<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, solar panels are becoming more popular amongst homeowners \u2013 there are now over 1 million \u2018solar houses\u2019 across the nation! You don\u2019t need to have sunny weather all year round for solar panels to work. They still work on cloudy days, too. However, solar panels won\u2019t work to the best of their ability when they\u2019re obstructed by trees, so keep this in mind when you\u2019re deciding where to put them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, solar panels that are tilted at 15\u00b0 or more can be cleaned by rain, according to the <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/energysavingtrust.org.uk\/renewable-energy\/electricity\/solar-panels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Energy Saving Trust<\/strong><\/a>, which improves their performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once installed by a vetted heating engineer, solar panels last at least 25 years, making them a great investment for energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/find-quotes\/a\/heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL GAS HEATING ENGINEER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Double and triple glazing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/07\/eco-ideas-3-glazing.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153543\/eco-ideas-3-glazing.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153543\/eco-ideas-3-glazing-486x332.jpg 486w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153543\/eco-ideas-3-glazing-220x150.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Double glazing is one of the UK\u2019s\nmost popular types of window, whilst triple glazing is also becoming more\nsought-after. Double glazed windows are made up of two panes of glass and triple\nglazed windows have three. Each pane of glass is separated by a gap of\ninsulating air, which reduces the amount of heat that escapes from your house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key benefits for both styles\nare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Less heat loss \u2013 all new or replacement uPVC, timber or aluminium windows are required to have a minimum Window Energy Rating of \u2018C\u2019.<\/li><li>Reduced noise pollution, as they\u2019re more soundproof than single glazing.<\/li><li>Increased home security \u2013 they\u2019re thicker than single glazing, so are harder to break.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Double glazing or triple glazing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Double glazing can be more effective in the areas of a house that are most exposed to the sun. So, it&#8217;s best to use triple glazing in the shadier areas of the house. Double glazing is cheaper to install yet triple glazing offers better savings on your heating bills over time, so you might be best off having a combination of both. A window fitter can advise you on this, as can our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/what-are-window-replacement-costs-in-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023 window replacement cost guide.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Request a quote today to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/find-quotes\/a\/windows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL WINDOW FITTER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Insulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"523\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/07\/eco-ideas-7-insulation.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153522\/eco-ideas-7-insulation.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153522\/eco-ideas-7-insulation-486x332.jpg 486w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/07\/15153522\/eco-ideas-7-insulation-220x150.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One third of all heat lost in homes goes through walls, and a quarter escapes through the roof. By installing insulation, you can improve your home&#8217;s energy efficiency and reduce your heating bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wall insulation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in wall insulation, then you\u2019ll want to find out what type of walls you have. There are two types of wall:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/how-much-does-cavity-wall-insulation-cost-in-2023\">Cavity walls<\/a>, made up of two walls with a gap between them (the cavity). These are usually found in houses built after the 1990s.<\/li><li>Solid walls, which have no cavity. These are typically found in houses built before the 1920s.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Wall insulation only takes around two hours to install, and you should be able to make back the cost of installation in five years at most, through your annual energy bill savings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-cavity-wall-insulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A CAVITY WALL INSULATION SPECIALIST<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Roof or loft insulation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roof\/loft insulation is effective for 40 years and can cut your carbon dioxide output by up to 1,000 kg a year. it can also save you up to \u00a3415 a year in energy bills by creating a barrier, stopping heat that rises from the lower levels of your house from escaping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Insulation also improves your home\u2019s energy performance rating, which has a positive effect on its value when it\u2019s time to sell. A thermal insulation specialist will be able to fit the best type of insulation for your home and budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information on loft insulation, read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/how-much-does-loft-insulation-cost\">2023 loft insulation cost guide.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-thermal-insulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A THERMAL INSULATION SPECIALIST<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Smart heating controls<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142910\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-1.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142910\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-1-498x332.jpg 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Smart heating controls are an increasingly popular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/is-your-home-smart-smart-home-technology-for-connected-homes\">smart technology<\/a> tool amongst UK homeowners. They allow you to control and customise your heating with just a tap of your smartphone, tablet or other device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smart heating controls can easily help you to improve comfortability in your home and cut down on your energy bill by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Allowing you to create, manage and adjust your heating schedule as often as you like.<\/li><li>Alerting you if you leave home but have forgotten to turn the heating off, so that you can quickly turn it off using an app.<\/li><li>Spotting trends in how you use your heating and creating an appropriate heating schedule to fit your needs.<\/li><li>Reacting to the weather through a weather-response function. This means that your heating will automatically adjust when it\u2019s hotter or colder than usual, without you having to lift a finger.<\/li><li>Control your heating room by room using zoning \u2013 this means that you won\u2019t waste energy on heating every single room in the house when you\u2019re only using one or two.<\/li><li>Working with other smart home technology that you may already have, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. This will allow you to control your heating using your voice, for example. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A gas\/heating engineer can discuss the different smart heating control systems with you, fit the system that you choose in your home and help you to connect it to your smartphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/find-quotes\/a\/heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL GAS HEATING ENGINEER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Heat pumps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Air source heat pumps (ASHPs)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A source of renewable energy, ASHPs work by absorbing heat from\nthe outside air to heat your home and water. ASHPs\ncan still extract heat even when the temperature is as low as -15\u00b0c! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142915\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-2.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142915\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-2-498x332.jpg 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The most popular type of ASHP in the UK is the air-to-water heat pump. They work by absorbing heat from the outside air and transferring it to water. Then, the heat distributes around your home through your wet central heating system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Air-to-water heat pumps work more efficiently at a lower temperature than a standard boiler system, which not only lowers your carbon emissions, but also cuts your heating bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142921\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-3.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142921\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-3-589x332.jpg 589w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142921\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-3-390x220.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>GSHPs extract heat from the ground through a ground loop (a loop of pipe) which is buried in your garden. Heat from the ground is absorbed into a mixture of water and antifreeze in the pipe, and then it goes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. This fluid then heats your radiators, hot water, underfloor, or warm air heating systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ASHPs and GSHPs need less maintenance than a gas or oil boiler, and no fuel deliveries are required as they\u2019re a renewable energy source. They also work more efficiently by delivering heat at a lower temperature over a longer period of time. A gas\/heating engineer can evaluate which option is best for your home. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more about how heat pumps can save you money in our blog post: <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-heat-pumps\" target=\"_blank\">Everything you need to know about heat pumps<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/find-quotes\/a\/heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL GAS HEATING ENGINEER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Draught proofing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"766\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142925\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-4.jpg 766w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142925\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-4-498x332.jpg 498w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The average home loses up to 20% of its heat loss through uncovered gaps in and around the house, according to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia-uk.org\/\">National Insulation Association<\/a><\/strong>. Some of these gaps go unspotted in our day-to-day lives \u2013 they can be found in and around pipework, loft hatches, skirting boards and even the cat flap, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By having your home draught proofed, you can also stop noise, dirt and other materials that enter your home through those little gaps. A handyperson can spot and seal up any gaps to protect your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/local-handyperson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL HANDYPERSON<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Thermostats and other heating controls<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Zone controls<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoned heating systems allow you to set and control the heating in different areas of your house. Each \u2018zone\u2019 is connected to the same boiler, but they each have their own thermostat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-5-full.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33138\" width=\"397\" height=\"522\"\/><figcaption>TRV on a radiator<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Found on the side of your\nradiator, TRVs control the temperature of different rooms in different \u2018zones\u2019\nof your house, by adjusting the flow of water going into your radiator. When\nthe room temperature changes, a capsule in the valve contracts or expands to\nadjust the temperature of the radiator to the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TRVs offer a simple solution to stopping individual rooms from overheating or going cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Delayed start thermostat<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Many central heating systems have\nset times for when the heating comes on. However, on days that are warmer than\nothers, having the heating automatically turn on anyway wastes energy and money,\nby increasing your heating costs.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A delayed start thermostat automatically delays when the heating comes on if the room is already warm, reducing how long the heating is on during the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/assets\/2020\/08\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-6-full-686x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33137\" width=\"356\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142951\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-6-full-686x1024.jpg 686w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142951\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-6-full-222x332.jpg 222w, https:\/\/rp-prod-wordpress-b-content.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2020\/08\/19142951\/HO-green-grant2-inspo-6-full.jpg 766w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\" \/><figcaption>Hot water tank<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hot water tank thermostats and insulation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Your hot water is kept in a hot water cylinder, which keeps it hot and ready for you to use. A thermostat allows you to set the temperature that you\u2019d like your hot water to reach. Once the water reaches that temperature, the thermostat prevents it from exceeding it, as well as turning off the heat supply to stop energy being used unnecessarily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heat can be lost through an uninsulated hot water cylinder and the exposed pipes between the cylinder and boiler. Insulating your hot water cylinder is a quick way to save you upwards of \u00a3195 per year on your heating bill and cut up to 725kg off your carbon dioxide emissions, according to the <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/energysavingtrust.org.uk\/home-insulation\/insulating-tanks-pipes-and-radiators\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Energy Saving Trust<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><center><a style=\"background-color: #84b818; border-radius: 8px; color: #ffffff; display: inline-block; line-height:23px; color: #ffffff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; center; text-decoration: none; width: 260px; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/find-quotes\/a\/heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#ffffff\">FIND A LOCAL GAS HEATING ENGINEER<\/font><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By making eco-friendly improvements in your home, you could save upwards of \u00a3300 a year on your bills and help cut carbon emissions. Here are 8 of the top energy efficiency jobs that you could get done in your home, with the help of a local tradesperson. Looking for a quicker way to start saving &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":32831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3049,3115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-green-homes"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Energy efficiency home improvement ideas | Rated People<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From lighting to insulation, discover eight ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your energy bills.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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