As the chilly weather draws in, there’s no better feeling than getting home to a warm and cosy house when you want to put your feet up in the evening. A poorly insulated house not only requires a lot of energy to maintain a comfortable heat, but your monthly bills will be an expensive prospect. Whether you’re looking to renovate your home completely with the help of professional architects in London or are looking for some lower cost ways to keep your house insulated during the winter, we’ve pulled together some design adaptations to consider.
Eradicate any draughts
Especially in older homes, draughts can become a nightmare in cold and breezy weather. Most commonly, draughts arise from chimneys, gaps around the window, space under the door or even letterboxes. By identifying the locations of your draughts, you can implement simple draught blockers or foam strips that are cheap and effective, keeping those unpleasant breezes at bay.
Thermal curtains
It is no secret that windows let out a lot of the heat from your home, especially if not double glazed. Investing in thick, quality curtains or wooden blinds will help create a barrier in between your windows and home, minimising the amount of winter chill that can make its way in. When you are out of the room, we recommend keeping the curtains or blinds shut so they can maintain as much heat as possible.
Insulate your roof
Ensuring that the roof of your house is sufficiently insulated can have a huge impact on your home’s temperature. As heat rises, effective insulation will prevent the warmth from escaping through the roof and require a lot of central heating to maintain a comfortable warmth. Looking into thick loft insulation will be a long-term investment that can pay itself off in the long run.
Adjust your thermostats
Although many of us don’t put much thought into the thermostat in each room, adjusting the temperatures can have a huge impact on your energy bill. Keeping them on mild settings as you are out throughout the day will maintain a consistent warmth so turn down the settings in rooms that are unused, shutting the curtains and doors as you do so to keep the heat in as much as possible. By adjusting your thermostats by as little as a degree or two, the savings you can make throughout the year can go a long way.
Double glazing
The glass in your windows lets out a lot of heat during the winter months, especially if you have older or larger windows in place. Although double and triple glazing is expensive, their energy conservation abilities can make a huge difference to the warmth of your home. If you are not in a position to replace all of your windows, consider which do not face the sun or the ones which you like to keep the curtains open on and start with these as you gradually make your way around the house.
