Homefire – The Top Five Tips for Winter Energy Efficiency

As the cold weather creeps in, people up and down the country are looking for ways to heat their homes effectively and affordably.

Turning up the thermostat without considering better ways to heat your home is ill-advised, mainly if times are tough financially. Let’s look at the best solid fuel supply and ways to create warmth at home to save money and avoid the heat escaping.

Proper Insulation

Sometimes there’s not a lot you can do about the insulation in your walls, but it’s good to explore your options. One of the easiest ways to ensure your home is adequately insulated is to apply the best coating of paint to the walls, like thermal paint, which has an impressive lifespan while keeping your home warmer.

Otherwise, double-glazed windows are much more effective at storing warmth than old single-pane windows, so consider this if your windows are old. Carpet instead of wood or tiling will also achieve incredible warmth, similar to home insulation.

Switch to a Wood Burner

Research shows that wood burners are more cost-effective than mains gas per kWh. Therefore, the annual savings you could make if you regularly use a heating appliance might be substantial.

Gas boilers also tend to be worse for the environment, so you can benefit from becoming more eco-friendly by using sustainably sourced wood logs instead. Kiln-dried logs are very effective at providing substantial heat for prolonged periods.

The Efficiency of Multi-Fuel Stoves

If burning coal is preferable to you, or if you want to rotate the solid fuel you use, opt for a Multi-Fuel stove instead of a log burner. This way, you can use all the stock you have in supply, leaving nothing to waste, and switch the fuel source depending on your mood.

This way, you can choose between smokeless fuel that will spare your home and those inside it from the chemicals that exude from traditional house coal.

Pick the Appropriate Solid Fuel

Remember that coal can’t be used in a wood burner because coal reaches temperatures log burners can’t handle. If you have a wood-burning appliance installed, always choose kiln-dried wood so you know the logs are seasoned sufficiently and will generate more substantial and safer heat than unseasoned wood can.

Similarly, traditional coal contains higher levels of Particulate Matter, and when they’re burnt, they can have negative health consequences. Always choose smokeless coal or kiln-dried logs from a premier fuel supplier for your indoor fire.

Use a Smart Meter

Monitoring your energy usage is essential to change how often you use heating appliances or budget better for next month. Smart meters cleverly track the frequency of our energy use to indicate what we can expect to pay every month.

Crucially, they can also inform you that your costs might be too high, so consider a new supplier when you can renew an energy deal.