Home Improvements To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient For Retirement

If you’re wanting to start making improvements to make your home more energy efficient ready for retirement, you’re in the right place. 

Making improvements whilst you have the finances prior to retirement is a great investment for the future, to cut down your living costs and take away the pressure of some bills. 

Whether you’re wanting to make a smaller or larger investment, we’ve got options for you.

Solar Panels

First up, we’ve got solar panels. Whilst this is definitely one of the more sizable investments, once they’re paid off, it can significantly reduce your energy bills. 

As well as cutting down your energy bills, especially in the summer, if your solar panels generate more energy than you are using, then you can actually sell it back to the grid and actually make money. 

How effective solar panels will be depends on where you are located and how much sun you get, however overall, it’s safe to say they’re going to save you a lot of money. Depending on your budget, you can get much smaller systems or larger systems. 

There are also things you can do to make the most of your solar panels, like using the most energy when your generation is highest, so doing your washing in peak sun hours or leaving a slow cooker on in the day then trying to use less in the evenings.

Upgrade Your Boiler

One of the best things you can do to make your home more energy efficient is to upgrade your boiler. Modern boilers are much more efficient than older ones, using less energy to heat the same amount and therefore reducing your heating bills. 

They are also usually more effective when used in conjunction with smart meters as well, so you can better control how much energy is being used. 

Again, this is one of the more costly investments, but it can make a huge difference throughout your retirement.

Conservatory Insulation

If you have a conservatory, then getting conservatory roof insulation can help to not only make your home more energy efficient, but it can also make the space much more usable all year round. 

It helps to keep warmth in during the winter and reduce the temperature in the summer months. It works by adding a layer of insulation onto the inside of your conservatory roof, which is then covered by ceiling panels to create a clean and contemporary look. 

If you currently have a glass roof, a tint will be applied to the glass so that the insulation isn’t visible from above, or if you have tiles, this won’t be an issue. 

This is one of the more affordable alterations you can make that not only saves you money, but helps you to make the most out of your home.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

One of the most affordable changes you can make is to swap out your bulbs for energy saving light bulbs. If you get the most energy efficient bulbs possible they use between 70% and 80% less electricity than traditional bulbs, and they also last a lot longer! 

One energy efficient bulb can save around £6 a year, and although this might not sound significant, when you replace every bulb in your house and take into account that they can last for up to 10 years, you can save a lot of money over that duration.

Loft Insulation

Another good option to make your home more energy efficient is to get loft insulation. This reduces the amount of energy that is able to escape through the loft, to significantly improve the efficiency of your home through the reduced heat loss. 

The type of loft insulation and the size of your home can alter how much it costs, however you can expect it to cost between around £200 and £3,500.

Double or Triple Glazing

Lastly, if you don’t already have it, double or triple glazing is a really valuable addition to your home, in terms of both energy efficiency and also reducing noise. It helps to block out drafts, prevent energy leaving your home and also add value to your home if you do ever decide to sell. 

Again, this is one of the more costly options to make your home more energy efficient, however it is also one of the most effective in improving the efficiency of your home, especially if you currently don’t have either double or triple glazing. 

This is a long lasting investment for your home.

Plumbing Tips for Those with Low-Income Wages

Most people dread the idea of maintaining their plumbing appliances when they also have to clean them regularly. The work becomes more unbearable for low-income earners who have to pay for regular plumbing services.

However, there are plenty of ways to maintain their plumbing fixtures without spending a fortune.

Maintain Your Plumbing Regularly

Every homeowner is encouraged to maintain the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems for optimal performance. Regular maintenance is recommended to catch the early signs of plumbing problems that lead to repairs. 

Have your plumbing fixtures and pipes inspected every few months or yearly. You're encouraged to reduce your everyday usage of plumbing fixtures.

Install Energy-Efficient Devices

Reduce your water bill by half after installing energy-efficient devices. There are low-flow devices on sinks or showerheads that restrict water flow. Buying and installing removable devices is an affordable option when you cannot replace the appliance altogether.

Learn the Basics of Plumbing

Understand the basic mechanics of how a plumbing system works, from sewer lines to drains. For instance, learning about water pressure is necessary because the low flow of water is a common complaint among shower users. 

In addition, learn about the types of damages that occur on common plumbing appliances and how plumbers like Cleanline Plumbing Solutions fix the problems.

Fix Leaks Immediately

Once you find a leak, fix it immediately instead of waiting for someone else to take care of it. You can find the source of most leaks that appear in rooms. 

Some leaks come out of damaged appliances, such as broken water hoses. However, some leaks come from hidden pipes with loose connections that only a professional can fix.

Perform Small Maintenance Tasks

There are small, simple tasks that every homeowner can perform to maintain the plumbing system. One of the first tasks is to keep the drain clear of debris. 

Another task is to clean debris from the sink faucet and showerhead to improve water flow. Check if it's time to flush the water heater. During the summer, you may have to reduce the temperature, and during the winter, you may have to insulate the tank.

Keep your plumbing in its best condition to save money and avoid spending unnecessary costs on plumbing repairs. A lot of maintenance tasks can be performed on your own. 

As a result, your sinks, drains, water heaters, and other appliances will function smoothly and remain efficient for as long as possible.

Simple, Budget-Friendly Ways to Make Your Dumb House Smart

Smart home technology was once a sci-fi concept, then a novelty and now a must-have for today's homeowners. According to reporting from CNBC, 2017 is poised to be the year of the smart home. 

Consumers are expected to race to figure out how to update their homes with everything from climate control Nest thermostats to smart appliances that tell you when you're out of milk and eggs. 

But with options including Samsung's Family Hub refrigerator retailing at $5,999, homeowners can feel squeezed out of the smart home market.

Although you can purchase top-of-the-line smart home appliances and fully outfitted homes, you can also pick up gadgets for less than $100 that add convenience and smart connectivity to your home. 

Here are five simple, budget-friendly ways to make your dumb house smart.

Install a smart security system

An ABC news affiliate sent letters to 86 inmates serving time for burglary to find out what could keep homes safe. Most of the intruders said they would immediately leave if an alarm system went off, and that cameras were a big deterrent.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to do some smart updates to your home security, including installing home security cameras. Lorex cameras, for instance, help monitor your home whether you’re at home or work. 

They're also an ideal choice if you have high ceilings or tucked-away spots where you want to install your cameras at a greater height or distance from your digital video recorder without unsightly or expensive cabling.

Get smart lighting

Smart lightbulbs have hit the mainstream and are an inexpensive way to dive into the connected marketplace. A Philips Hue starter kit wirelessly connects to the Hue Bridge for remote-controlled lighting that can set the ambiance and color palette of your home. 

You can even create an inspired landscape from a photo of your favorite vacation. For homeowners with big connectivity plans, the LIFX Wi-Fi smart LED light bulb adds color while integrating with the Nest, SmartThings products and Alexa voice control.

Use a smart switch

Add some convenience and efficiency to your home at the same time with the Belkin WeMo Insight Switch. According to the Department of Energy's Berkeley Lab, roughly 50 devices and appliances in an American household are always on and draining power. 

Belkin removes the sense of urgency of worrying whether or not you turned off the lights. Users can manage their power consumption and turn appliances off and on remotely and slash their electric bill.

Find a smart assistant

Now you can finally afford that personal assistant you've always wanted. But instead of hiring a human, you can just use Amazon's Echo Dot and stick to a smart budget. Like its big sister the Echo, Alexa can answer your questions ranging from the weather to the best place to grab dinner tonight. 

You can also ask your Dot to play music and keep track of what's going on with your Fitbit or arrange for an Uber. It keeps your hands free while you run your household and focus on more important things.

Stay safe with a smart smoke detector

Everyone wants their smoke detector to be as smart and alert as possible to avoid a catastrophe. But instead of investing in expensive devices, you can pick-up Roost, a Wi-Fi-enabled 9V battery, and use its app to turn your old smoke detector into something smarter. 

You get notifications to your smartphone if the alarm is triggered while you're away, and let you know when your battery is almost out.

Adding some smart updates to your home can keep you connected, increase the safety to your home and add convenience to your life. And it can all be done without a $5,999 refrigerator to keep your leftovers fresh for tomorrow.