The UK government’s most recent budget has extended the energy price guarantee for another few months, to the relief of most households. In the long term, though, we all need to cut back on energy use, both for financial and environmental reasons. Soaring energy bills have forced us all to become savvy when it comes to saving on fuel. If you’ve sat by the fire or put on an extra layer this winter instead of switching on the heating, you certainly aren’t alone!
Halstead Glass prides itself on sourcing and installing the most up-to-the-minute windows, doors and conservatory roofs on the market in terms of energy efficiency. And this doesn’t need to come at any cost to style. While they keep your home warm and cosy, our products also look great, perfectly complementing any style of home, new or old.
So let’s have a look at five ways you can save energy at home, with a nod to some of our offerings and how they can cut your bills significantly.
Turn off appliances
Sometimes, it’s the little things in life – you can save a considerable amount over a year by simply turning appliances off at the socket instead of leaving them on standby. Pulling the plug (literally) on appliances you don’t use much is also a good idea, and if you find it a hassle checking everything is off before you go to bed, use a power strip and turn that off instead.
Turn down the temperature
We’ve all had the experience of sitting in a stuffy centrally-heated room, or turning on the ‘hot’ tap to find it’s almost at boiling point. There really is no need to keep your thermostat at maximum. If it’s set higher than you need, it’s working harder than necessary, burning through your bills budget. If you really need extremely hot water, you can always boil a kettle.
How does double glazing save energy?
So much heat is lost via low-performing windows, whether they be single-glazed or just old and in need of replacement. One of the most effective ways you can save energy within your home is by installing energy-efficient windows. Our replacement windows use very high-performance uPVC multi-chambered profile designs for our double and triple-glazed units which, under the national BFRC rating scheme, achieve a score of A++. In short, these are the best new windows you can possibly get in terms of energy saving, keeping out the elements and improved sound insulation.
What are energy-efficient doors?
An older, cracked door with a flapping letterbox and the wind whistling through the keyhole is hardly a model of energy efficiency. If your door is in this state it’s time to consider getting a replacement. We offer a range of durable, secure and stylish doors, including aluminium and uPVC. One of our most popular front doors is the composite type, made from a combination of materials including glass-reinforced plastic, uPVC, insulating foam and timber. These doors offer increased security performance and energy savings, with the additional benefit of an attractive traditional timber appearance.
Up on the roof
With spring about to arrive, now might be a good time to consider replacing your conservatory roof. Older roof types were prone to heat loss during the cooler months and overheating caused by solar heat gain during the summer. Now that UK homeowners are maximising the potential living space of their homes and conservatories and orangeries are being used all year round, the thermal efficiency needs to be much more up-to-date.
For example, our glazed roofs have the option of using tinted solar glass, allowing your conservatory to absorb the light without overheating. We also use low-E insulation glass on all our glass roof replacements, making sure your room stays at a comfortable and consistent temperature all year round.
Save energy with Halstead Glass
These are just a few of the many energy-saving tips and tricks out there, and what you spend in the short term almost certainly pays for itself going forward. To see what products we offer homeowners looking to improve their energy performance, get in touch today or call us on 01787 473 516.