Don`t Wait Till Winter To Make Your Home Energy Smart

Date Published 25 September 2013

It's not long before the clocks go back, the temperatures drop and the nights draw in – bringing winter ever closer. However, if you are looking to sell your home and demonstrate your energy- saving skills and financial common sense to potential buyers, then now is a good time to start.

Lesters Estate Agents are urging sellers to tighten up where necessary before the onset of bad weather later this year.

James Gesner Partner at their Didcot office states: 'We are just entering autumn and the weather is relatively bright and mild, so people naturally don't want to think about winter just yet. However, by putting a few measures in place now, particularly if you are looking to sell your home, then you and your buyer could be reaping the benefits of taking energy efficient action early and heading off any larger than necessary bills this winter.

Statistics from the Energy Saving Trust reveal that a typical household will spend over half its annual income on fuel bills. However, there are a few simple steps sellers can take to winter smart their home – saving energy, money and demonstrating good practise to potential buyers.

Here are some top tips on how to save energy and money:

• Check your loft insulation is thick enough and in good condition. A depth of 11 inches is recommended, and insulating your loft effectively could say up to £180 a year.
• Bleed radiators to get rid of any air inside which may lead to increased bills if the water can't heat up effectively.
• Turning the room thermostat down by just one degree can save around £30 a year.
• Insulating a hot water cylinder with a well-fitted jacket could lead to an average £45 a year saving.
• Use energy efficient light bulbs that use less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs.
• By fully draught proofing your home (including windows, keyholes, letter boxes and loft hatched) you could save an average of £55.
• Turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, as they continue to use energy when they are left on standby.
• Defrost your fridge frequently and check the door seals.
• Boilers account for around 55 per cent of what is spent on energy bills in a year. Replacing an old boiler with an A-rated energy efficiency condensing boiler and improving heating controls could save an impressive £310 a year.
• If you have a standard shower it will use around 40 per cent of the water required for a bath