Bournemouth residents are this week being urged to keep their houses well maintained in order to lower their energy bills and minimise their carbon footprint.
Allan Tofield, owner of Bournemouth based business Richmond Home Improvement, said that just a few simple maintenance tasks can save people both time and money in the long run.
Examples that Mr Tofield gave included lubricating rubber seals on doors with petroleum jelly to extend their lifespan and reduce heat loss, greasing locks and hinges on doors to prevent weather damage, and replacing worn out hinges to stop water leaking through.
Mr Tofield further added that even though newer products would be more effective as they are constantly improving, “windows and doors fitted in the last five to ten years are still able to keep out draughts, noise and the weather provided they are properly maintained.”
Josh Lumley, a student at Bournemouth University living in private accommodation, was surprised to find out that small amounts of maintenance could have an impact on energy savings. He said: “I know about the obvious things like insulation, but I didn’t realise little things like this could have any effect. Being a student, it can be difficult to pay the large bills we get every month, but at the same time I would have to look further into how much money this could save me and whether it would be worth it.”
A report from the Energy Saving Trust claims that just by having good draught proofing in your home, you could save up to £100 a year and around 130kg of CO2 emissions.
