Making homes more eco-friendly goes hand in hand with lower gas and electricity
bills, as well as of course, helping to look after the environment.
As a
landlord your property’s Energy Performance Rating can make your property more
desirable to rent particularly as tenant’s can save on bills.
Here are some steps you can take in order to
achieve this:
1. Energy saving light bulbs
2. Loft Insulation
Helps to keep the heat in the property during the winter. As hot air
rises it means a lot of warmth can be lost through the roof. As less heat is
lost, the less money is spent on heating. This is one of the most effective
ways of saving money, as lofts are a lot cheaper to insulate than roofs. On a
semi-detached three bedroom, the cost for loft insulation 0mm to 270mm is £300
with a yearly saving of £140.
3. Thermal curtains
Also help to keep the heat trapped in the house and cold air from
coming in. If you are renting a property to students for example and are
providing curtains, it might be worth investing in thermal ones. If you are
renting to a family, this might not be possible as they will most likely have
their own.
4. Double glazing
This another way for you to keep the heat in; this also helps with
keeping the property quiet. If the house is situated by a busy road or near an
airport, double glazing should be a must for noise reduction. There is also the
option of energy efficient windows, which keep the heat in the winter but keep
the room cool in the summer.
5. Change the shower head
Low-power shower heads help with water usage and this in turn
will help with water bills. There are two types: Non-aerating
ones work by restricting the water flow and squeezing it through very small
holes; this produces quite a hard, massaging water spray. "Aerating"
heads, meanwhile, mix oxygen with the water to create a softer, bubbly, shower.
6. Invest in carpets
Carpets also prevent the escape of heat. Having carpets can reduce
energy bills by 4%-6%. The thicker the carpet the better the insulation, of
course it does not provide as much insulation as traditional under floor insulation,
but it is a lot more cost efficient.
7. Buy low-energy appliances
Invest in fridges and ovens, which are ‘Energy Star Qualified’, they
use 10%-50% less energy than standard models. A really cost efficient
fridge-freezer can cost only £30 a year to run. Check out which? reviews before
deciding.
8. Buy a low-flow toilet
Flushing the toilet accounts for 30% of all water use; this can
significantly reduce the water bill. These toilets use 4.8 litres of water or
less per flush compared to 6 litres that the traditional toilets use.
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