While January may be a miserable month in terms of feeling the financial pinch after Christmas and a continued uncertainty around the pandemic ?" there are still ways to beat the winter blues.
The cost of fuel bills is always a hot topic, particular during the colder months, when many people may now have the added pressure of heating and lighting their working from home space.
January 18-24 again marks Big Energy Savings Week, a collaboration between Citizens Advice, the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, aimed at educating and advising homeowners on how to reduce their utility bills.
But if moving house is on your wish list for 2022, it will come as no surprise that buying and moving into a brand-new home at this time of year will result in savings when it comes to utility bills - thanks to economic boilers, insulation and double-glazing.
Developer Linden Homes ?" part of Vistry Group ?" has developments across Yorkshire offering a range of styles to suit all needs and budgets while offering versatile spaces in which to work, rest and play.
Sales manager Louise Graham said: “With newer homes come smarter ways of saving energy and ultimately reducing utility bills for the homeowner.
“At Linden Homes, every effort is made to deliver best practise to our customers ?" from the build stage, with double glazing and wall and loft insulation, right through to the various heating and water systems elements that make up the property.
“We are also aware that many people looking to move house will now require a comfortable working from home area. Some of our homes feature studies, while the versatile design of others allows for flexibility of space throughout the property.”
A few energy saving tips for those working from home this winter:
- Try and stick to your working hours and avoid the temptation of working too much extra on your laptop, which will all be added to your electricity bill. Cutting down the amount of time you spend checking emails and stepping away from the screen on your lunchbreak help.
- If you can, try and let in some natural light which will not only stop you wasting energy and money on powering desk lamps and overhead lights, but may also improve your mood and boost productivity.
]Layer up ?" grab an extra jumper or put on some slippers! Try and avoid the temptation of turning up the heating, but if you need to do so, limit it to the room/s you are using.
- Unplug anything that you aren’t using, ie printers, phone chargers and anything on standby that is needlessly sucking up energy.
- Have a change of scenery. One of the most effective ways to save energy when working from home is to not work at home at all! Try and swap a few hours at home for a local coffee shop or alternative business premises if you can.
There are many eco-advantages that come with buying a brand-new home, as opposed to an older counterpart, including:
- Most new homes have thermostat-controlled heating - turning down your room thermostat by just one degree can save around £55 a year, says the Energy Saving Trust.
- Linden Homes will fully draught proof your home. Figures from the EST show a fully draught proof home could save around £25 a year. Don’t forget to keep doors closed in rooms you are using to keep the heat in.
- Boilers account for around 55 per cent of what is spent on energy bills in a year. Your new home will have a shiny new super energy efficient one.
- Turning off the lights will lead to a £11 a year saving but switching to LED bulbs will save £30 a year.
- All the toilets in Linden Homes properties feature a dual flush to help conserve water usage.
- New homes will be built with the recommended insulation throughout the home ?" so no need to check and upgrade.
And buyers can also play their part in reducing the impact on climate change, buying with Vistry Group (which includes the Linden and Bovis brands) in the knowledge that they are investing in an energy-efficient home that qualifies for a new green mortgage discount.
Vistry Group achieves high band energy ratings by ensuring in-built energy efficiency is there for the life of the home through a fabric-first approach.
This has led to all but one of their house types having an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A or B ?" meaning homeowners could be eligible for high street lenders’ green mortgages and possible cashback.
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