Smart Products Six that will cut

your energy bill

Six Smart Products that will cut your energy bill

Introduction

Spot Thermometer

Appliances

The Pay off

Resources

Insulation

LED Light Bulbs

Programmable Thermostat

Drought Excluder & Vent Covers

Resources

Introduction

With energy costs rising, it's important that we all go to

greater lengths to keep our homes cozy and dry as the cold

weather sets in. But help is at hand. There are a few simple ways you can keep the cost of your energy bills down.

Photo by on Flickr Moyan_Brenn

Photo by Tambako the Jaquar on Flickr

Spot Thermometer

A spot or infrared thermometer can be much cheaper than shelling out for a

home energy audit. The purpose of this clever invention is to find any areas

and whether you will require any of your home where air is escaping

additional insulation.

The device itself is a kind of non-contact thermometer, meaning it has

the ability to measure temperature from a distance.

They are sometimes used by fire fighters to check for hot spots, and

also by kitchen supply manufacturing companies for research and

development purposes.

You can pick one up from any hardware shop like B&Q, and they are

easy to use. You just aim the gadget at the wall or ceiling to look for

cold patches. It's relatively inexpensive too - you can pick one up for

about £20-£30.

Insulation

Ensuring your home is properly insulated is the most effective method of

cutting down your energy bill. After detecting any air holes using your spot

thermometer, take measures to in every way possible. insulate your home

Try using insulating foam sealant to fill any cracks or holes - it is water

resistant and makes the gap instantly airtight.

Alternatively, use insulating foam to keep out draughts and larger

spaces which could be letting the cold air in.

You can even buy fibre glass free brands which are made from old

recycled cotton and other fabrics, so you don’t need to wear a mask or

gloves.

LED Light Bulbs

Fitting LED light bulbs can be pricier to buy than regular incandescent bulbs

but they last much longer without being replaced and only burn 20 per cent

of the energy used by regular bulbs. Consider having them fitted in your home

to slash bills significantly, especially if you are guilty of leaving the electricity

house with your lights on.

Image by Pow(n,2)

Image by chicagogeek

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is designed to adjust the temperature of your

home according to however you programme it to take effect at various times

throughout the day.

They are sometimes known as setback or clock thermostats and are

really easy to install.

These are the perfect little gadgets for anyone who often gets to work

in the morning and forgets that they have left the heating on.

You can programme it to come on an hour before you wake up,

meaning the house is warm whilst you get ready for work, then it will

cool down during the day when you're not in.

There are even some which can be controlled via the use of an iPhone

application, so you can change it as you like whilst on the move.

Draught excluders

Draught excluders are a cheap as chips way to keep out the draught from

underneath doors, whether it's keeping the heat inside the house, or stopping

the cold air from getting in.

You can buy them from most hardware shops or online. Alternatively, if you

are feeling creative, you can make your own.

Vent Covers

Invest in some magnetic vent covers to stop air from getting in via your air

conditioning system.

They are really cheap to buy and easy to use - just stick them down over the

vent to keep the heat in and stop any draughts from getting in.

Resources:

o Green Home Guide

o Energy Saving Trust