From checking your heating and stopping draughts to looking at your energy tariff and changing your light bulbs, we’ve covered lots of small jobs that can make a difference.

Now, with autumn just around the corner, it’s time for our final autumn home energy checklist. So, how many have you managed to complete?

Have You Draught-Proofed Your Home?

Small gaps around windows, doors, floors and other areas of your home can allow warm air to escape and cold air to get in.

Simple draught-proofing measures can help your home feel more comfortable without turning up the heating.

Check around your windows and doors and look for any obvious gaps. You can also check areas such as letterboxes and keyholes where cold air might be sneaking in.

Is Your Heating Ready?

It’s much better to discover a problem with your heating system now than on the first really cold day of the year! Check that your heating is working properly and familiarise yourself with your controls and thermostat.

If your heating system needs servicing or maintenance, getting it sorted before winter can give you some extra peace of mind.

Have You Checked Your Loft Insulation?

Heat rises, which means an inadequately insulated loft can be a significant source of heat loss. If it is safe and accessible, check your loft insulation and see whether it could benefit from being topped up.

However, remember that insulation needs to work alongside appropriate ventilation and moisture management. If you’re unsure what is suitable for your property, seek independent advice before making significant changes.

Are You Saving Energy on Hot Water?

Hot water is another area where small changes can make a difference.

You could:

• Fit a hot water cylinder jacket if you have a suitable cylinder
• Reduce the length of your showers
• Fix dripping hot taps
• Only boil the amount of water you actually need

These are simple habits, but together they can help reduce unnecessary energy use throughout the year.

Have You Checked Your Energy Account?

Before the colder weather arrives, take a little time to check your energy account. Submit an up-to-date meter reading, review your tariff and make sure your direct debit reflects your actual energy use.

It’s also worth checking whether you could be eligible for any grants, schemes or other energy support. If you’re unsure where to begin, our Energy Team can help you explore your options. Email sofi@arranecosavvy.org.uk for free impartial help.

Is Your Lighting Ready for Darker Evenings?

The evenings are already beginning to draw in, so we’ll soon be relying more heavily on our lights.

Check the bulbs you use most frequently and consider switching older bulbs to energy-efficient LEDs when they need replacing. You can also clean light fittings and lampshades, check your torches are working and switch off lights and appliances when you’re not using them.

Have You Asked for Energy Advice?

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

If you’re worried about your energy bills, considering improvements to your home or simply want to understand what options might be available to you, impartial advice can be a great place to start.

Your Final Autumn Home Checklist

With one week to go until autumn, how many can you tick off?

• Draught proofing
• Heating checks
• Loft insulation
• Hot water savings
• Meter readings and tariff checks
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Energy advice

If you’ve worked your way through the countdown with us, your home should now be a little more prepared for the colder and darker months ahead.

And if you haven’t completed everything, don’t worry. This isn’t a race! Even choosing one or two actions that work for your household is a positive step.

Need Some Support This Autumn?

At Arran Eco Savvy, we provide free, impartial energy advice to households across Arran.

Whether you have questions about insulation, heating, energy bills, grants, renewable technologies or making your home more energy efficient, our Energy Team can help you understand your options.

Email sofi@arranecosavvy.org.uk to arrange a free one-to-one energy advice session.

And that’s a wrap on our Getting Your Home Ready for Autumn countdown!

We hope the series has given you a few useful ideas and helped you feel a little more prepared as we head into the colder months.