We all like to watch the pennies, especially when it comes to rising gas and heating bills.
Did you know that 82% of energy consumed in the home is down to your heating and hot water?
That’s why more and more of my customers are now asking me about installing energy efficient controls and thermostats, so they can make some of those savings back.
However, there seems to be a bit of an outdated belief about programmable controls being ugly, overly-complicated to fit, and cables having to be run down your wall or skirting boards before you can get them to work.
That’s no longer the case, and I’m going to tell you just how easy it is below.
The benefit of modern controls
Nowadays, most modern energy efficient controls require very minimal labour to fit, and can usually be up and running within the hour.
That’s because they can be fitted anywhere in the house, and work via wifi, bluetooth or infra-red signals – you can even have a wireless control unit you can carry and use in any room.
The truth is, it’s never been easier to have full control of your heating and hot water – and I’d always recommend choosing wireless controls when you have the option.
Zoning systems
Even the most complex and expensive systems, like Honeywell’s Evohome multi-zone thermostat (INSERT LINK TO EVOHOME BLOG), can be up and running in barely any time at all.
Zoning systems are particularly effective, as they allow you to control the temperature in each area of the house, radiator by radiator.
You can set the times your radiators will come on, as well as which temperature setting and how long for – giving you ultimate savings on your energy bills.
Some systems will even allow you to control your heating and hot water via an app on your phone, so you can turn your heating on and off from the office, or even on the bus to work.
Pricing
Wireless controls can be more expensive than older models (in the Evohome‘s case, you’re looking at £600 – £700 where as standard wireless programmable room stat is around £150) but choosing modern energy efficient controls means you’ll be increasing your home’s overall efficiency, and saving money on fuel bills. You may find the controls even pay for themselves over time.
Choosing this option also means you will be able to cut down on a day’s labour and the expense of fitting three-core cables through your home – and I can guarantee your engineers will thank you for it.
The price will vary depending on the type of unit you get – for instance, a zoning system will be more expensive than more simple programmable controls.
Conclusion
With rising gas and energy bills, we’re all looking for ways to save money, which is why so many of my customers are now looking to install energy efficient controls. They’re no longer ugly and cause a lot of upheaval to your home – in fact, they can be up and running within the hour.
Modern, wireless controls allow you to take full control of your heating (and even separate radiators) from anywhere in your home – in some cases, you can even download an app on your smartphone or tablet so you can turn your heating on and off from anywhere at all!
Wireless, energy efficient controls may be more expensive, but you may find they start paying for themselves within just a few months of use. Choosing this option also means you’ll cut out the cost of a day’s labour and expensive cables – plus, minimal upheaval is always nice.
Are you interested in installing wireless, energy efficient controls?
