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Energy Tips
The following are a list of Heating & Energy Tips
Heaters
Before you purchase heaters, it is advisable to check they are the correct size for the rooms they are to heat. We also recommend they have thermostatic controls and timers. It is important to note that electric heaters other than storage heaters consume electricity at the most expensive rate.
The ideal room temperature is 20°C. Bedroom areas can be heated to less than 18°C. By lowering thermostats by 1°C, this can reduce your yearly heating energy consumption by 10%. It has a positive effect on the environment too, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If you only need to heat one room, why not use a space or portable heater instead of your central heating system.
If your radiator is mounted below a window, we recommend that you put a projecting window-board or shelf above the radiator. This will direct warm air into the room, reducing heat loss through the window.
Keep doors closed in heated areas to stop cold air entering from unheated areas.
Central Heating
7-Day programmable Timer
A 7-day programmable timer will allow you to set your heating system to match your occupancy patterns on a daily and weekly basis. The separation of space heating and domestic hot water controls into zones will also allow you to set each zone to operate for required periods only. For example: you can set your boiler to switch on automatically before you wake in the morning to heat water for showers without turning on the central heating.
Boiler Interlock
Boiler interlock is a method of interconnecting your heating system controls on your boiler to ensure that the boiler only operates when required.
Time and Temperature Control of Electric Immersion Heater (Hot Water Cylinder Heater)
Time and temperature controls installed on immersion heaters allow householders to present the time period required for water heating and the temperature to which water is heated. This means that water need not be heated for longer than required or to higher temperatures than required.
Temperatures for hot water should be set to a maximum of 60°C. To heat water above this temperature means you have to add cold water to cool it which is both an unnecessary waste of energy and water.
We also recommend that lagging jackets are fitted to hot water cylinders or in some options replace the cylinder and fit with pre-insulated type to ensure that minimum energy is lost. A lagging jacket on your hot water cylinder will maintain that your water hotter for longer and pay for itself in 2-3 months.
If you will be out during the day / out of the house for more than a day, turn off the heat. Turn off the heating overnight.
Heat Loss
Open fires are wasteful of energy with more than 70% of the energy going up the chimney.
Hot Water Heating
Heating hot water account for 64% of energy consumption in the home: you should be thrifty in its use.
90% of the energy consumption of washing machines goes on heating the water. Wash clothes whenever possible in cold or cool water.
