Use summer to get winter-ready

IT MAY SEEM A LONG WAY OFF, BUT ACTING NOW COULD PAY OFF WHEN THE WINTER CHILLS ARRIVE.

- BY SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

WITH summer coming into full swing, chances are chilling out in the sunshine is at the top of your to-do list. However, it's worth planning ahead for the winter months, when reducing energy heating costs will be a priority.

Here, Simon Bones, founder of home retrofit company Genous, shares his top tips for households to make plans while the sun shines...

1. Think about getting solar panels

With the energy price cap having increased by 6%, now is the perfect time to put solar panels on your property, suggests Simon.

"What you don't use, you can sell back to your supplier, making the grid that bit greener," he says.

"If you're updating your roof, planning an extension or even converting your garage, renovations are the perfect time to upgrade your home to be more eco-efficient."

2. Install better heating controls