You Could Use Less Energy At Home

Some of the most basic tips involve ensuring that the heat can flow freely around the house while at the same time keeping it inside. Close windows and curtains at night to stop the heat from leaving and make sure that any radiators in your home are not blocked up - it can be very easy to allow piles of books, boxes and other such items to stack up in front of radiators, thereby blocking free flow of heat.

There are many steps which can be taken to keep warm without relying on central heating. For example, if you have tile floors then it is worth investing in rugs or mats - even small ones which only cover certain areas. Keeping your feet warm this way will have a surprisingly large overall effect and possibly allow you to lower your central heating a little. On a similar note if you find yourself feeling chilly it is advisable to try out wearing thicker clothes or layering up before you begin trying to raise the household temperature.

In addition to precautions such as these it is good practice to make sure that your heating system is in good shape on a regular basis. Keep vents and furnace filters clean and regularly pay for your system to be professionally inspected.

If you can afford it it is well worth installing more insulation in areas such as the attic and wall cavities. Even if insulation is already installed you might want to check its thickness and, if necessary, replace it with thicker insulation. Double glazing on windows is also a good way of trapping heat.

If you use air conditioning during hot weather look into installing ceiling fans. These will provide a flow of cool air around the house, allowing you to turn down the air conditioning a little.

Finally there is perhaps the single most famous tip of all: turn the lights off when you do not need them.

These are some of the best tips to get you started on lowering energy usage.