Crafting an energy-efficient side return should be something that everyone strives for. Adding a room that can cope with heat loss in the winter to the back of your house will keep your energy bills down and help you enjoy the space more.

But what do you need to do to make your kitchen side return energy efficient? Let’s take a look.

Seal Air Leaks

Once you complete the main building work, you’ll want to check you are sealing all the air leaks in the side return. Filling any gaps around the windows and doors can prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from outside getting in.

Also, be sure to check around the various pipes and outlets in your kitchen. These are particularly prone to leaking and letting all that expensive hot air escape from your property.

Get A Home Energy Audit

You’ll also want to get a home energy audit to identify the parts of your home where you could improve energy efficiency. Inspectors should delve into every aspect of your kitchen side return, making recommendations for insulating the roof or filling the walls with cold-proof materials. You can also get clear instructions on how to improve energy efficiency and avoid paying through the nose to keep the radiators running.

Remember, if you have a kitchen in a side return, it is not connected to the main house, it needs additional insulation and warmth-retention measures to keep it warm. It can’t rely on attic insulation, like the rest of the home.

Add Skylights Or Rooflights

You can also try adding skylights or roof lights to your property to provide natural light to the interior. These additions increase the amount of solar energy getting into the room in the winter, raising the temperature by a few degrees while providing plenty of brightness on cold winter mornings.

Ideally, get designers to incorporate skylights into the design before you begin construction. Alternatively, you can fit them afterward, but you need to be careful to seal them properly and prevent heat from escaping through the gaps around the edges.

Plant Trees And Shrubs Around The Edges

Another way to make your side return kitchen more energy efficient is surprisingly low-tech: add trees and shrubs around the edge. Creating this insulating barrier stops the wind from stripping heat from the external brickwork, allowing more warm air to remain in place for longer.

The best shrubs are evergreen since they retain their leaves and insulating properties in the winter. You can opt for other types of shrubs, but they might not be effective.

Ideally, avoid any shrubs that put out deep roots. You don’t want plants damaging your property over time as they grow.

Adjust Your Side Return To Be South-Facing

If you live in the northern hemisphere, adjust your side return to make it south-facing (and vice versa everywhere else). This way, you can maximize the amount of sunlight reaching the room, getting a heat boost of a couple of degrees on sunny winter days.

Don’t worry though if this isn’t on the cards. You still have options.

Add Triple-Glazed Windows

You can also try triple-glazed windows replacement. These have two air gaps (instead of the usual one gap for double-glazing), helping you retain more heat.

Look for glazing options with the more expensive krypton gas filling. This substance seems to block unwanted heat transfer better than alternatives, thanks to its density and chemical characteristics.

Triple glazing often looks identical to double glazing. However, it can be thicker, depending on the brand you choose.

Install Energy-Efficient Appliances

You can also try installing various energy-efficient appliances to make your kitchen side return more efficient. Look for Energy Star ratings of five stars or above for the most efficient options.

Most products offer the same quality of service, but they may require a little extra maintenance. For instance, energy-efficient dishwashers operate at lower temperatures, which is good for keeping CO2 emissions low, but also requires you to regularly clean the filter and add salt. Neglecting to do so will inevitably reduce the effectiveness of the machine.

Add Heat Recovery Ventilation

If you really want to go all-out, you might also consider adding a heat recovery ventilation system. These extract energy from the air leaving your kitchen through the extractor fan and ductwork and use it to warm incoming air. This way, you can make use of the heat generated by your cooking or oven to heat the room, instead of relying on additional sources of energy.