What you need to know when improving your home energy efficiency
If you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient, one of the easiest ways to go about it is with a new roof. There are many other things to consider, such as insulation and heating systems. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning on improving the efficiency of your home’s energy use:
What does home energy efficiency mean?
Home energy efficiency is the process of making your home run more efficiently. This often means things like installing a new HVAC system or adding insulation to the attic. It can also mean using renewable energy sources, like solar panels or wind turbines, to generate electricity for your home.
Home energy efficiency is important because it helps you save money on your monthly utility bills, which means more money in your pocket. But it also helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and keeping carbon dioxide from polluting our air.
A well-insulated home will keep your family warm in winter and cool in summer, so you’ll spend less time running the AC or heaters. You’ll also feel safer knowing that if there’s an emergency and you need to evacuate quickly, there won’t be any flames around your house to cause trouble (because they’d have nowhere to go).

How do you know if your home is energy efficient?
You know your home is energy efficient when it uses less energy than an average home. And how do you know how much energy your home uses? Easy. Use a smart meter.
A smart meter is a tool that can help you determine whether your home is using more or less power than average, and then it can help you find ways to improve the efficiency of your home.
If you have an older home, it might be especially important to get one of these meters to see if any of the appliances in your house are using more energy than they should be.
A smart meter will also allow you to keep track of how much energy is being used in different rooms throughout the house, so if you have children who leave lights on all day long, for example, then having this kind of information available can be enormously helpful when trying to get them to change their behaviour.
What should you consider when improving your home’s energy efficiency?
The long-term impact is the most important thing to consider when improving your home’s energy efficiency. Improving your home’s efficiency may significantly impact your monthly expenses, but if you plan to sell it in the next few years, it might not be worth the upfront investment.
However, if you plan to live in your home for a long time and want to take advantage of tax breaks and incentives offered by local governments, then having an energy-efficient home is a smart move.
Second, make sure that you are getting the right advice. Energy audits are key because they will tell you what needs to be done and how much it will cost. You should also talk with someone who knows about energy-efficient homes, such as an architect or builder with experience in this area.
Finally, consider the benefits of going green! There are many ways that installing energy-efficient appliances or making other changes can benefit your wallet and our planet!
There are other things you’ll need to consider, such as:
- Cost – The amount of money that will be spent on the project
- Safety – Whether or not the project is safe to do yourself
- Time – How long will it take to complete the project, and how often can you be at home during this time
- Reliability – Whether or not everything will likely go according to plan while working on this project (and if not, what are your backup plans?)
- Comfort – Is there anything about this improvement that might make you feel uncomfortable in any way? (For instance, if you’re going to have an HVAC technician come out and install something new in your house.)
Improvements That Can Help Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Insulation
Insulation is a common problem in many homes. It tends to be more of an issue when you live in a region that gets cold during the winter and hot during the summer. The insulation helps to keep your home warm during the winter, and it helps to keep your home cool during the summer.
It is important to have insulation in your home because it can help lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. If you have an older home, you will likely need to improve your insulation because there needs to be more of it. This can make it difficult for you to get the most out of your heating and cooling system, which could result in higher energy costs throughout the year.
Many different types of insulation materials are available today, such as fibreglass batts or spray foam insulation systems. Fibreglass batts are made from glass fibres that trap air between two layers so it cannot move around easily; this allows for better heat retention within any given space within your home or business establishment (or anywhere else).
Spray foam insulation systems are applied directly onto walls, floors or ceilings; however, they may require professional assistance from an expert contractor before installation can begin, which could slightly increase costs. There are many more insulation options, so it’s best to learn more from an insulation contractor about which material suits your home.
Roofs and walls
The best place to start when improving your home’s energy efficiency is with the roof and walls. These are the two areas that offer the most significant opportunities for improvement, as they account for a large percentage of heat loss in any house.
The easiest way to improve your home’s energy efficiency is simply by replacing old roofs and walls with new ones. But this can be costly, so you’re better off investing in insulation first—especially if your budget is tight.
If you have an older house with high ceilings, consider adding extra insulation around pipes or ducts that run through the roof space (this will also help prevent condensation). New windows are another great way to reduce heat loss; however, this option can be expensive upfront but pays dividends down the road due to lower utility bills over time.
If you are looking for a way to save energy through roofing, you can check out Energy saving Conservatory Warm Roofs, which might be the perfect option for your home since you can lose heat through spots such as your conservatory when the weather gets colder.
Heating systems
Improving your home’s heating systems can help you achieve greater efficiency in several ways.
The first is by reducing the amount of energy required to heat your home. A home with an outdated heating system will use more energy than a more efficient one, so it’s essential to update your system as soon as possible.
Another way that improving your heating systems can help increase efficiency is by lowering your utility bills and making them more predictable. When you have an older system, you likely have to pay for repairs and maintenance on it frequently, which increases both the cost and unpredictability of your monthly bill. If you improve your system, however, this cost should go down dramatically—and so should the variability in what you pay each month.
Finally, improving your heating systems may also reduce the carbon emissions your home produces each year. This could allow you to take advantage of government incentives or other programs designed to incentivise green living practices, such as using solar panels or installing different kinds of renewable energy sources.
Windows and doors
Improving your windows and doors can help you improve your home efficiency by making it more comfortable and efficient for heating or cooling your home.
Windows are a great way to let natural light into your home, but they also let in cold air during the winter months. Insulating your windows with a thermal pane of glass will keep the cold out while allowing the sun’s rays to warm up your home.
Doors can also be easy for hot air to escape a house, especially if they’re not adequately insulated. Installing a door sweep on each side of your door will allow you to close it tightly without letting out any extra warm air.
When it comes time to replace old windows in your house, consider upgrading to energy-efficient ones certified by third-party organizations, such as through your local energy program. These windows have been tested both independently and by the government agencies themselves to ensure they meet strict standards for energy efficiency and performance over time.
Conclusion
While it’s easy to get wrapped up in saving energy and money with home improvements, you will want to invest a little bit of time initially to know what you should look for when finding the right energy-saving solution for your home. By reviewing your needs and considering your options, it will be easy to make an informed decision on where to go with your next project.

![[AD] We’re a cricket-mad family, so we’re buzzing that @thehundred is back this August! 🏏🔥
To get ready, M tried out the official FREE Activity Pack — and it’s brilliant! 🙌
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![[AD - Press visit]
We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/417980235_313576471048632_3682382982231216432_n.jpg)

![[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
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![[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
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![[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
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![[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/336812306_765234558514317_685553691647241974_n.jpg)


![[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/334565436_5960402314015030_663031098700829518_n.jpg)
![[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
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