Energy efficiency and ‘going green’ are hot topics and as a landlord who is about to let out your property, you might be wondering what you can do to make your property kinder to the planet, your pocket and even more attractive to tenants. Here are our suggestions on things you can do to boost the energy efficiency in your property.
Seal Seal Seal
A simple and great start to making any home more energy efficient is to ensure the house is sealed around any cracks or holes which might cause drafts or heat to escape from the building. Check the seals around windows and doors and don’t forget to double check the plug sockets as any holes or cracks there is a sneaky way for heat to continue to escape.
Insulate
Loft insulation is an inexpensive alternative to fully insulating a property and will stop a large amount of heat escaping through the roof which will ultimately save on heating costs and help the environment. Insulating your loft is a fairly simple task and can be carried out yourself if need be. Look out for government grants related to this type of property improvement, as it might be worth applying and seeing if they can cover the cost if you are eligible.
Lower Heat Settings
Reducing the heat from your boiler and thermostat even by a few degrees will knock a sizable chunk from energy usage and costs when added up over time and is an almost imperceptible way to reduce energy consumption.
Appliances
If you are kitting out your property as a furnished let, then energy efficient white goods are the way to go. These appliances cut down on electricity usage by using less power to run. Energy efficiency is rated on a scale of A-G with G using the most energy and A using the least. The A rating is also sometimes split into sub-categories, A+ A++ and A+++ with A+++ being the top rated product in regard to cutting down on energy usage.
We hope our tips on making your property more energy efficient as a landlord has been useful. Watch out for our top tips on making your home more energy efficient for tenants coming soon. For more advice and guidance on the home buying and letting process, please contact our team here and they will be happy to advise you.