Make your home more energy efficient in one weekend

Fast fixes for a warmer, cheaper, greener home

Looking to lower your energy bills and make your home more environmentally friendly but short on time? Good news: you don’t need to spend thousands on solar panels or embark on a full-blown renovation to start seeing results.

With just a weekend and a little elbow grease, you can make simple changes that lead to real energy savings. Here are five quick and effective ways to make your home more energy efficient in just two days.

1. Monitor your energy usage

Before you can cut down your energy use, it helps to know where it's going. If you have a smart meter, take full advantage of it by using an energy monitoring app (most energy providers offer one). This will show you real-time data on your usage—and more importantly, what’s costing you the most.

Once you understand your energy habits, you can make smarter decisions like running your dishwasher at off-peak times, avoiding unnecessary heating, or switching to eco modes on appliances.

2. Adjust your boiler settings

Many homes are running their boilers at unnecessarily high temperatures. If you have a combi boiler, try lowering the flow temperature—it’s often set around 75–80°C, but many homes are just as comfortable at 50–70°C. A small tweak here can lead to noticeable savings.

You can also turn down the temperature of your hot water (if it’s heated on demand), especially during the warmer months. Just be sure to make changes gradually and check with a qualified engineer if you're unsure what's safe for your system.

3. DIY Draught-Proofing

Draughts are one of the quickest ways to waste energy at home. Luckily, stopping them is one of the easiest weekend jobs out there.

Focus on sealing up common problem areas:

• Doors: Install draught excluders or use brush strips at the base.

• Windows: Apply draught-proofing strips around the frames.

• Floorboards and skirting: Use a flexible filler to close any gaps.

• Fireplaces and chimneys: If unused, block them with an inflatable pillow.

• Loft hatches: Apply foam strips around the edges to keep warm air in.

Just remember: homes still need ventilation, so don’t cover any purpose-built vents.

4. Use appliances more efficiently 

You don’t need to replace your appliances to start saving energy—just use them more wisely.

Here’s what you can start doing today:

• Wash at a lower temperature, for example 30°C instead of 40°C—it uses a significantly lower amount of energy.

• Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they’re full.

• Use eco modes where available.

• Avoid the tumble dryer and air dry your clothes when the weather allows.

These small changes can shave pounds off your bills each month—and they require zero investment.

5. DIY insulation 

Insulating your home can make a huge difference to both comfort and energy bills—and there’s a lot you can do yourself in a single weekend.

Try these quick wins:

• Hot water tank insulation jacket: Easy to fit and keeps your water warm for longer.

• Pipe lagging: Insulate exposed pipes to stop heat escaping.

• Radiator foil: Reflect heat back into the room instead of letting it escape through the wall.

• Window insulation film: Ideal for single-glazed windows to reduce heat loss.

• DIY loft insulation: If your loft is accessible and safe, laying insulation rolls is a worthwhile weekend project.

These low-cost options can dramatically reduce heat loss and make your home feel warmer without turning up the thermostat.

You don’t need a big budget or a team of contractors to make your home more energy efficient. With a few hours of DIY and a little planning, you can start cutting your energy usage—and your bills—this weekend.

And should you ever need a boiler or appliance repair, our expert engineers and service are just a click away!