Going green 'could make a home last longer'

By taking steps to improve home energy efficiency and sustainability, homeowners can find that they are helping to increase the lifespan of their property, it has been suggested.

And while they may be able to ensure that their house stays a home for longer, taking such action could also see households reducing their annual gas and electricity bills.

Luckily, help is at hand from the home improvement experts from the US group Handyman Connection on just what Britons can do to make their homes a little greener.

Small steps for a greener home

"Regular maintenance can actually extend the life of a home and energy improvements are often inexpensive and start saving consumers money immediately," said Joel Bell, executive vice-president of the company.

Indeed, the group explains that while people are trying to save money in any way they can, neglecting to carry out vital repair work or employ home energy efficiency improvements could see them forking out more in the long run, either through higher gas and electricity bills, or repair costs.

Steps the group recommends could boost the lifespan of property and lower maintenance costs include checking for any gaps or cracks in doors and window frames.

An easy test to identify whether this is a problem is to turn off the lights and see if any light comes through from the other side of the door through cracks in the wood or gaps around the frame.

Should this be the case, the group recommends fitting adhesive strips to draught-proof the space, which could see homeowners able to turn down their central heating and save on their gas bills.

The group also recommends installing central heating controls to give households the ability to only heat their water when necessary, while internal and external motion lighting could lower electricity bills by ensuring lighting only comes on when a room is occupied.

Home energy efficiency could save money

While such property improvements could see Britons getting more from their property, there are other ways to reduce gas and electricity bills.

These include simple home energy efficiency awareness, which can mean ensuring that computers, television sets, games consoles, phone chargers and other electrical gadgets are turned off when not in use.

Furthermore, bleeding radiators to remove trapped air bubbles, turning down the central heating thermostat and only heating water when it is needed, could all be steps which allow Britons' annual gas and electricity bills to tumble.