Tips to help get your home ready for spring
With spring just around the corner, now is a great time to think about what you can do around your home to take action for climate and potentially lower your energy bills.
As the days get longer and warmer, it can only mean one thing: spring is coming. With that in mind, here are some sustainable tips to help you get your home ready for spring while taking action for climate.
1. Check your thermostat settings
Get ready for the warmer weather and spring forward with a thermostat check. Reprogramming your thermostat, if you need to, helps make sure you’re not heating your home more than you need to. But don’t forget to check the weather forecast and adjust for any predicted cold spells.
For ultimate temperature control, upgrade to a smart thermostat like Worcester Bosch EasyControl. It turns off when you’re not home and shows you how efficient your heating programmes are, so you can adjust them to keep your energy use at the best level for you.
2. Harness the power of the sun and take control of your energy
Say goodbye to relying solely on the grid for electricity and hello to generating your own renewable electricity by installing solar panels. With solar panels, you can make the most of the extra daylight during the spring and summer months and power your home’s lights and appliances. And why not go one step further by adding a battery to store the excess energy you generate during the day and use it when the sun sets.
If you’re an E.ON Next customer, you’ll already be benefitting from 100% renewable electricity1 as standard, giving you peace of mind that any electricity you’re using is backed by a renewable source.
3. Ditch the dryer
With the weather on the up, give the tumble dryer a break and go green with line drying. The sun and wind will do their magic, helping to cut your electricity bill and get fresher, quick-drying clothes.
4. Don't let your boiler burn a hole in your wallet
As winter comes to an end, it's easy to forget about your boiler as we rely less on our heating. But before you turn your back on your boiler, check your boiler pressure and service date. Regularly servicing your boiler helps to ensure it runs efficiently and can identify small issues before they get any worse.
Don’t forget to check the flow temperature too – turning this down to 600C could save you up to £1002. If you’re unsure how to do this or what the right temperature for you and your home is, we suggest asking an engineer to check the flow temperature for you.
And if your old boiler still isn't running efficiently, consider upgrading to a new boiler and you could save money on your heating bills – without compromising on the temperature of your home.
5. Consider swapping your boiler for a heat pump
Air source heat pumps are a more sustainable alternative to boilers when it comes to your home’s heating and hot water. An air source heat pump is a low carbon energy system which uses the energy from the outside air to provide your home with heating and hot water, helping to reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills.
What’s more, you could receive up to £5,000 towards the cost of installing a heat pump through the Government’s Boiler Upgrade scheme.
Read more about how air source heat pumps work, and the pros and cons of getting one.
6. Make use of the longer daylight hours
Finally, save on energy and costs by letting natural light in by keeping your curtains and blinds open during the day instead of relying on electricity to light your home. Lighting makes up 11% of the average household's electricity bill3, so choosing natural light whenever possible can help keep energy use and costs down.
At E.ON, we’re committed to taking action for climate and helping our customers to lead the smart and sustainable energy transition. For more tips on how you can be more sustainable at home, check out some of our other blogs:
1. Electricity backed by 100% renewable sources. E.ON's renewable generation assets, agreements with UK wind generators and the purchase of renewable electricity certificates. The electricity supplied to your home comes from the National Grid and DNOs. eonenergy.com/renewable
2. BBC News: Energy saving tips: Five ways to cut costs this winter
3. Energy Saving Trust: Lighting