From the 1st of April, the energy price cap will increase by a whopping 54% for approximately 22 million customers - that is an increase of £693 per year! The energy price cap updates twice a year which means that many consumers are worried they will face another increase in October with the wholesale prices of energy already quadrupling in the last year alone. With the government only providing a basic level of support to reduce consumer worries, in this blog, we discuss the many ways you can help to keep your costs down amid this energy crisis.

Many people believe that only large or expensive changes to your home can make a significant difference; however, in terms of energy, this is not the case. Combining small, simple and larger changes when you are financially able to can make a considerable difference. Below are a few that may enable you to make a change to your home:

Turn off standby appliances

Whilst turning off standby appliances appears to be a tedious job that will make very little difference, this small change can help you save an average of £30 per year on your energy bills. With energy bills increasing significantly, this is a great save that everyone can make! Additionally, new technology means that you can invest in plug sockets that can be turned on and off via your phone or similarly, you can use a basic timer plug to schedule turning off your plugs.

Install a smart thermostat

Smart thermostats are a great way of making sure you are heating your home as efficiently as possible by only heating the rooms you are using. This technology, over time, learns how long it takes to heat your home so that they can ensure the right temperature at the right time. Similar to most smart technology, it can be controlled by your phone, meaning you can monitor your home temperature and energy usage from anywhere. On average the installation of smart thermostats can save a consumer around £75 a year!

Energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficient appliances are another area that people think will not bring big enough savings to warrant the investment; however, there are large savings to be made by simply changing the appliances you use. For example, an A+++ fridge freezer will save on average £320 in energy bills over its lifetime compared to an A+ model. Therefore, despite the additional expense, they are most definitely worth the investment.

Install a new boiler

In one of our previous blogs last year, we already identified the government's support and funding to introduce more energy-efficient boilers into consumers' homes. Similarly, statistics suggest if you upgrade your old boiler to a new A-rated alternative, you could save a massive £300 a year in energy bills!

Draught-proofing/home insulation

Insulation and draft proofing are probably one of the easiest ways to make energy savings in your home. It’s thought that simple draught-proofing can easily reduce heating bills by £35 per year. Likewise, loft insulation on a semi-detached house can also reduce heating bills by around £135 on average. These are just two examples image how much savings you can make if you added all the relevant insulation required to your home!

Double glazing

For many double glazing is a basic requirement. However, in older properties, simply adding double glazing can help save over £100 per year compared to single glazing, with even bigger savings for triple glazing!

At Arc Design Services, we specialise in architectural design, dedicated to offering a fresh and exciting approach to every project. With this in mind, Arc Design Services could help you ensure your new home, renovation, or extension is as energy-efficient/energy-savvy as possible. Contact our experts today at Arc Design Services at www.arcdesignservices.net or 0161 928 4433.