DIY home energy audit: Simple steps for big savings

Why should you do a DIY home energy audit ?

A DIY home energy audit can show you where you are wasting heat, and therefore energy, in your home. By fixing a few simple problems, you can reduce your energy consumption which will in turn save you money.

Checking your home can include things like; checking insulation, draughts, heating controls, your hot water systems, and lights. The Energy Saving Trust say that small changes and efficiency fixes can save the home up to £445 per year.

Here’s a short guide to your own home energy audit

Use these to find the most common ways your home loses energy.

• What you need to get started

• Before you start, it’s a good idea to have some tools to hand for anything that looks like it might be a quick fix.
• A torch for the loft or slightly out of reach spaces, a ladder, and a caulk gun for sealing gaps are a good place to start. Maybe take your phone to take pictures of anything you think might need attention so you can get advice or come back to it later.

• Check your insulation

• Insulation is a major factor in retaining heat. Around a quarter of the heat in the household can be lost through a poorly insulated roof, so aim for at least 27mm of loft insulation.
• Walls can account for another 35% of overall heat loss, so check whether you have cavity wall or solid wall insulation.
• Don’t forget your floors. Uninsulated floors can cause draughts and make rooms feel colder.

• Hunt down draughts

• Sometimes, it will be harder to notice a small draught so you can try lighting a candle or tealight near your windows, doors, loft hatch and pipes. If the flame moves, you may find there’s a draught which means heat is getting out and cold is coming in.
• Seal any gaps with draughts proof strips or sealant to keep warm air in and cold air out.

• Review heating and hot water systems

• If you have an older boiler, you could find that it is up to 40% less efficient than a newer one so upgrading to an A rated boiler could save you around £490 per year.
• Turning your thermostat down by 1 degree can save around £90 per year.
• Insulate hot water tanks and pipes and this could save you around £40 per year.

• Check windows and doors

• Single glazed windows will let a lot of heat escape. If replacing them isn’t an option for you, have a look at secondary glazing or thermal film to apply to the glass.
• Make sure window and door seals are intact, and hinges are secure.

• Assess lighting and appliances

• Swap old bulbs for energy efficient LED’s as each one can save around £7 per year.
• Turn off appliances at the socket as appliances can still use power in standby mode. This can save around £45 per year.
• Use your smart meter in-home display to see which appliances are using the most energy and adjust your habits accordingly.

• Keep ventilation in balance

• Good ventilation can stop mould and damp from forming but remember, don’t overdo it as fans will also be using electricity. Try to only use when needed and consider natural ventilation where possible, such as opening windows on warmer days.

Ready to do your own energy audit ?

With even a few small fixes like, draught proofing, increasing insulation or if you can, upgrading your boiler, you could save yourself a lot of energy and with that, money.

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