Saving energy should be at the top of everyone’s agendas. Not only is it good for the planet, it’s also good for the purse strings, and if you’re about to convert your loft, or have a loft conversion already, putting some energy saving strategies in place for your attic room could be really beneficial to you. As a loft conversion specialist, we will always advise going above and beyond when it comes to energy saving, as this could pay off both financially and in terms of comfort.
1. Go Above and Beyond the Regulations
Any loft conversion specialist will ensure that your attic meets Building Regulations. But this is the bare minimum you can be doing to make sure your home and your newly converted loft is as energy efficient as the regulations stipulate. Why not take the conversion of your loft space as an opportunity to go above and beyond the regulations?
By this we mean doing things like asking your loft conversion company to install more insulation than is legally required. By adding increased insulation, you will not only keep your newly renovated attic space protected from extremes in temperature, but you’ll also save on your energy bills and it will act as additional sound proofing too.
2. Choose Energy Efficient Windows
There’s little point in adding extra insulation to your loft without installing energy efficient windows too.
Opt for the highest performing windows you can afford; your loft conversion specialist will be able to advise on what will best for you, but A+ rated double glazed windows will help keep the heat in and reduce energy bills. If you want to go further still, you could choose triple-glazing. Both of these options will act as good sound proofing too.
3. Upgrade your Boiler
If you’re installing a bathroom within your loft conversion, you may need to upgrade your boiler to make it efficient enough to cope with the extra room it needs to feed.
Similarly, if you’re removing a water tank and the associated heating and hot water system, you’ll need to change your boiler to a combi boiler. Either way, you may wish to take it as an opportunity to upgrade your boiler to a more efficient model. This will ultimately be more energy efficient and should save you money on your heating bills.
4. Learn How to Control your Heating
Whether or not you upgrade your boiler, getting to grips with your heating controls is a great way of harnessing an energy saving strategy for your loft conversion.
Thermostatic valves on your new radiators are recommended as part of Building Regulations, but it’s also wise to take a look at the new ‘smart home’ devices available. These allow you to control your home remotely from a smartphone, meaning you can switch your heating on in advance of arriving home, as well as switch it off remotely should the weather take a turn for the better.
5. Add Solar Power
Solar panels can be added as part of your loft conversion build, or even added in retrospect to an existing loft conversion. Not only can solar panels be used to power and heat your own home, there are often Feed-in Tariffs available, which is an incentive which pays you for any additional electricity generated and fed back to the grid.
Ask your loft conversion specialist about adding solar panels as part of your build; scaffolding is often the most expensive part of solar panel installation, and as a loft conversion requires scaffolding anyway, you could be killing two birds with one stone.
Trusted Advice from a Loft Conversion Specialist
There are certainly plenty of ways you can make your home and your new loft conversion energy efficient. As a trusted loft conversion specialist, Bespoke Lofts is more than happy to advise on energy saving strategies as part of your loft conversion build. Get in touch today to see how we can help you convert your loft and lower your energy bills at the same time.