Are we as consumers misguided about saving energy on heating our homes?

The Energy Saving Trust has issued a guide on the most economical ways to heat your home and business with a central heating system. With over half of our domestic and commercial energy costs being spent on heating and hot water, getting some useful tips can save money and reduce your carbon footprint too.

Whether your central heating system is fired up by gas, oil, LPG or wood, the correct heating controls can keep your home or business warm with no waste. Your full set of heating controls should include a boiler thermostat, a timer or programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). Using these controls properly, you can save substantially.

Here are the average savings you could make in a typical three-bedroom semi-detached home, heated by gas:

  • Installing and correctly using a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves could save £70-£150 and 310kg to 630kg carbon dioxide a year.
  • Fit a hot water tank insulation jacket: £20 to £30 and 90kg – 130kg carbon dioxide a year.
  • Turn down your room thermostat by one degree: save around £75 and 310kg carbon dioxide a year.

Using your timer control can keep your domestic and commercial property both warm and economical. Firstly ensure that the timer is correct and then set the switch. You may also need to adjust it when the clocks change.

Before you set the timer, see how long it takes for your house to warm up from cold to a comfortable temperature – and then how long it takes for the house to start to get uncomfortably cold. Take these times into consideration when setting the timer on and off.

If you insulate your home, it will warm up more quickly and cool down more slowly, so you’ll save money on heating.

Here are some of the controls that The Energy Savings Trust recommend:

  • automatic bypass valves
  • cylinder thermostats
  • programmers
  • programmable room thermostats
  • programmers
  • room thermostats
  • thermostatic radiator valves
  • timeswitches.

With so many choices for central heating systems it’s good to get some expert opinions. Here at Dorchester Heating & Plumbing we have years of experience so feel free to give us a call. We cover the whole of London and the surrounding areas.