Saving energy, cutting energy bills and maximising the heat that we get from our energy usage is becoming increasingly important.
Every year more and more elderly people find keeping warm over winter a bigger test and more and more families are finding it tough too. Ultimately, energy just keeps getting more expensive and some people simply cannot afford the cost.
So are there any options and if so what are they?
Well there are certainly things that you can do to reduce your heating bills and these same actions will also help you to get more from the same amount of energy.
Most homes with four season climates have a central heating system based around a gas, coal or oil burning boiler and naturally having an efficient boiler is one place to start. However, replacing a boiler is an expensive job and it may take years for the future savings to repay the initial outlay. For many people this makes it an unviable option.
There are however a number of other energy saving options that can help and in some cases they are even free. Most however will incur some cost, but the savings that follow will soon start to cover this initial charge and this makes them worthy of consideration.
Here are some examples with the first one being specific to the UK as of January 2011.
For anyone of retirement age free loft insulation is available in England, i.e. the insulation along with its fitting is free up to a value of about £3000 per home.
This is a government scheme and it will both save money and make a home feel warmer. A member of my own family has used this scheme and the difference, in terms of providing a warmer house that is cheaper to heat, is clearly evident. The negative effect is that it does reduce the usability of the loft space.
Option two is all about using what you have more effectively and more efficiently and the first place to start is with radiators. There are two options and whilst both will cost money, they will also save money pretty quickly.
Another effective (and this time cost free) action is to clean the area between the fins at the rear of any radiator. These spaces can get clogged up with dust and they prevent the radiators from spreading and dispersing heat effectively. You will be amazed at the difference that this can make.
Staying with free solutions, tucking curtains in behind radiators (so that the heat does not get trapped between the radiator and the window) can also help to save energy and keep a room feeling warm. It can also stop convection currents which make a room feel like it has a draft or chill.
Surprisingly you can sometimes save money, or at least get more for your money, by adding some additional radiators to a home. This is because the heat output of many boilers is under utilized. Find out more here - Save money with extra radiators.
Go to this page - energy saving tips for some advice, recommendations and tips covering the boiler, thermostat, radiators and energy conservation. There are many ways of saving energy and reducing fuel bills and not all of them cost money.
Finally, polystyrene tiles applied on ceilings and even walls can help to contain heat whilst draft excluders fitted under doors and around casement windows will also prevent drafts.
All of these little things can add to the overall effectiveness of keeping vital heat in a home or apartment and they will reduce energy bills.
An alternative to having a heating system that uses radiators is to have under floor heating. This is an alternative to a central heating system and, if electricity tariffs are low, it can be cost efficient.