By Joshua Robinson – 

With the cold nights of winter, many Huddersfield homeowners are looking for ways to save energy and keep warm without overspending on their household bills.

Furthermore, recent research carried out by Barratt Developments found that 58 percent of people in Yorkshire are most concerned about the uncertain energy costs associated with buying a new home. This shows homeowners’ needs for energy-efficient homes in the UK.

With this in mind, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes have provided six tips to help homeowners save energy while reducing their household bills.

1. Get a smart thermostat

Smart thermostats make it easy to control central heating even whilst out of the house. It’s also easy to create heating schedules to avoid heating an empty home.

Smart thermostat heating systems, such as Nest, allow remote control via an app. They can also act as a weather-compensating thermostat, modifying the temperature inside the house based on the temperature outside. This helps to reduce unnecessary heating.

According to British Gas, smart thermostats could save you up to £311 a year, whereas a standard thermostat can save around £145 a year by turning it down by one degree.

2. Invest in good-quality insulation

Investing in good-quality insulation can benefit in lowering energy bills in the long-term, around a quarter of the heat lost in homes happens through the roof, and around a third through the walls, so good-quality insulation around these areas can help reduce energy bills.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, by insulating a loft with 270mm of insulation, people can save anywhere from £240 to £445 per year, depending on house type. When installed correctly, loft insulation should pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime. Wall cavity insulation will save people £135 to £485, depending on the size of the property.

3. Install double or triple-glazed windows and draught-proofed doors

Upgrading windows can improve the way houses retain heat during cold weather. With the average UK home losing 25 to 30 percent of its heat through the windows, installing energy-efficient windows can help to lower energy bills.

According to the Energy Savings Trust, replacing single-glazed windows with A-rated double-glazed windows could lead to savings of up to £155 a year on energy bills. Doing the same with A++ rated double glazing could save people up to £170 a year. New build homes come with upgraded windows that help save costs in the long term, with all windows in Barratt Developments’ properties installed with double glazing as standard.

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Doors can also be insulated and draught-proofed to prevent heat from escaping, which saves the typical household around £45 a year. Alternatively, for a cheap and quick fix, adding a draught excluder to the bottom of doors to help create a barrier against the cold.

4. Replace light bulbs to save on electric

Low-energy LED light bulbs use 90 percent less energy than old-fashioned light bulbs. They’re also cost-effective, and their long lifespan means people may never need to replace them, especially in rooms that aren’t used often. Switching from traditional to LED bulbs can save you up to £14 a year, depending on the wattage, and by switching off the lights when leaving the room, people can save a further £25 a year.

5. Be careful with washing machines

It’s a small change, but reducing the temperature of washing machine cycles and usage by one run per week for a year can save people around £27 a year. Investing in water-saving appliances can also help save on bills. All Barratt Developments’ properties come with the latest A+/A rated, energy-efficient appliances as standard to help limit water usage.

6. Switch off standby mode

Homeowners can save around £55 a year by turning appliances off standby mode. Almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming. With the increase in electronic gadgets in the home, getting a standby saver or smart plug that allows people to turn all appliances off standby in one go might be worth considering.

All Barratt Developments’ properties are designed to be up to 64 percent more energy-efficient and save homeowners up to £2,200 per year on bills.

Barratt Developments

Gavin Birch, Managing Director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, said: “The cost of living crisis is still drastically affecting people across Yorkshire, with over half of people concerned about energy-efficient costs when purchasing a new property.  It’s more vital than ever to incorporate energy-saving measures where we can in our new build homes.”

“The high energy-saving costs confirm that the need for affordable, energy-efficient housing is at an all-time high, with almost two-thirds of house hunters likely to consider buying a new build property to help save money on bills. We pride ourselves on our energy-efficient homes, and we encourage people who are looking to move to seriously consider the long-term financial benefits of purchasing a new build property.”

Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes brands, has a development in Honley, named Scotgate Ridge. The development offers a new community of three and four-bedroom homes in a rural location with access to the Yorkshire countryside. Homes are available to purchase from £469,995.

To find out more about how energy-efficient Barratt Homes are, please visit: https://www.dwh.co.uk/sustainability/energy-efficient-homes/.