Saving heat energy is a way to lower heating bills, but also a way to do something for the environment and your own health. Clean air at the right temperature in your home has a huge impact on your well-being. Find out how thermo-modernisation saves heat, how to save heat through daily habits and what impact a good room ventilation system has on savings.
Saving heat energy - what should I pay attention to?
If you are looking for answers to the question of how to save heat energy in your home or flat, you are in the right place. There are at least a few things to pay attention to right from the start, because we use too much heat in our homes on a daily basis.
- Firstly, it is a good idea to fit thermostats on the radiators. These allow you to control the temperature in your home so that the radiators do not produce excessive heat.
- Secondly, it is important to remember that radiators should not be covered because it is then more difficult for the warm air to heat the flat. It is not a good idea to put furniture in front of radiators or to cover them with curtains to the ground. In order to heat the room intensively and efficiently, they must be uncovered.
- Thirdly, don't create situations where the house is too hot. If the radiators are running too hot, many people open the window to adjust the temperature. This causes warm air to be wasted. Ensure that the temperature level is tailored to your own preferences in each room.
In addition to this, the insulation of the house or flat is extremely important, which includes insulating the building and sealing windows and doors, as well as the appliances used (fridges, televisions, light bulbs). Energy-efficient appliances require much less energy to function than those produced just a few or a dozen years ago, and all this has an impact on saving heat energy in the household.
How to save heat energy - modernising your heating system
There are various ways to save heat energy - both cheaper ones, such as fitting thermostats, and more expensive ones, such as upgrading the heating system. Although it is worth starting with small changes, it is the big ones that have the quickest and greatest effect. Modernising the heating system means replacing an old heating system, e.g. a coal-fired backhoe, with a modern heat source, such as photovoltaic panels or a heat pump. Both of these heating systems are much more environmentally friendly and more convenient to use than coal cookers. Together with a well-insulated building, they form the best way to save energy.
Photovoltaics - what is it? Photovoltaic panels are installed to convert solar energy into electricity for use in the household. Typically, these panels are located on the roofs of houses or on special racks in backyards. A heat pump, on the other hand, is a device that draws energy from renewable sources such as the wind or the ground. Inside the pump, processes take place to transform this energy into one that heats the house or the water used by the occupants. From the heat pump, comfortable underfloor heating can be run into the house, but the heat can also travel to radiators.
In old houses, it is worthwhile to upgrade the heating system or, if you are building a house from scratch, to opt straight away for a modern way of heating the home. This brings benefits such as greater control over the temperature in the home; heat that is tailored to the inhabitants' real needs and preferences, as well as savings, safety and environmental benefits (no greenhouse gas emissions), among others.
How does the thermal insulation of a house or apartment building help save heat energy?
Proper insulation of a house or apartment building has a significant impact on saving heat. It turns out that heating costs can be reduced by up to several tens of per cent. This is because in a poorly insulated or not at all insulated house, there is nothing to retain heat inside the walls. If the building is insulated tightly with polystyrene or mineral wool, the warm air is not able to escape as quickly. When heat escapes from the building, constant reheating of the dwelling is necessary, and even this often proves insufficient. Wool or polystyrene retain heat energy inside, reducing the need for heating.
Does proper ventilation save heat energy?
Saving heat in the flat is also influenced by proper ventilation of the rooms. The best way to make it work properly is through recuperation. This is a system called mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. It consists of installing a recuperator in the house or flat, i.e. a device in which air exchange takes place. The recuperator draws stale air from the dwelling on one side and new air from outside on the other. Inside, it cleans the new air of any impurities and heats it with the heat of the air taken from the house. The clean air then goes indoors and the used air is exhausted outdoors.
How, then, does it save heat in the flat? Thanks to the presence of the recuperator, the windows do not need to be opened to ensure adequate air circulation in the building. When the windows in the flat are open, warm air is exchanged for cooler air without transferring heat energy. This requires much more intensive heating, which means that more money has to be spent on fuel. 
Recuperation therefore saves not only heat, but also money. The difference can be as much as several tens of percent. In addition, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery prevents dampness, fungus and the growth of dust mites or bacteria in the home. It ensures that both the walls and the furniture remain in good condition for a long time. It also has a beneficial effect on the health of the occupants of the home, with particular emphasis on those with allergies.
Does saving heat energy have an environmental impact?
Does thermal energy consumption have any impact on ecology and environmental protection? Of course it does! When a building is heated, and especially with coal-fired cookers, an enormous amount of harmful greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. If the heat energy in the home is retained, e.g. through recuperation or appropriate thermal insulation of the building, the need for heating is reduced. The less you burn in the cooker, the less gases enter the atmosphere. And the fewer harmful gases in the atmosphere, the healthier and cleaner the planet.
While it may seem to individuals that changing them will do nothing for the Earth, from a global perspective the difference to the planet can be huge. The climate is at a critical juncture, so it is very important to do what we can to act in any way to protect the environment. In addition to this, it is also worth noting that saving heat energy is a benefit not only for the world, but also for the wallets of its inhabitants.
How to save heat energy on a daily basis - tips
In order to keep energy bills lower and to help the planet as effectively as possible, heat-saving habits should be implemented in everyday life. It has already been mentioned to avoid curtains covering radiators. Keep doors and windows closed and use recuperation to avoid unnecessary heat loss through building leaks.
Interestingly, you can even contribute to energy savings when cooking. You will cook for less time if you prepare your meals under the lid. In addition, you can switch off the oven a little earlier and not open the door. The temperature inside the oven will be maintained, and the cake or meat being prepared inside will certainly be cooked through even without constant energy support until the very end.
Turn down the valves on radiators when you leave so that the house does not heat unnecessarily while you are away. It is a good idea to cover windows at night and uncover them during the day. During the day, the sun is able to heat the home effectively, and at night it is worth covering the window, preventing heat from escaping through the gaps. If you absolutely have to open the window, it is a good idea to reduce the output of a nearby radiator. If you live in a block or tenement, remember to always keep doors or windows closed in corridors and neighbourhood stairwells. It is important to take care not only of your own home, but also of the communal space, as heat energy can be lost there too.
You already know why it is important to save energy and you know the ways to avoid wasting heat in your own home or flat. Implement habits into your daily life, think about installing a recuperator, use renewable energy sources, invest in better thermal insulation of your building and see how much you can save.
