1. Understand your bill
The information on a typical energy bill can be confusing but understanding it can go a long way to helping you get to grips with your energy usage at home. If you don’t understand something on your bill, call your energy company and ask them.
2. Switch off standby
By turning off standby on your appliances you can save around £30 a year.
Almost all electrical and electronic appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming. You may want to think about getting a standby saver which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.
Check the instructions for any appliances you aren’t sure about. Some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of any programmes you want to record.
3. Be more careful in your kitchen
Use your kitchen appliances more carefully:
• Use a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap.
• Cutback your washing machine and dish washer use by just one cycle per week and save money on your energy bill.
• Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need, don’t fill it to the max point if you are only making one cup of tea.
4. Get a head
If you’ve got a shower that takes hot water straight from your boiler or hot water tank (rather than an electric shower), fit a water efficient shower head. This will reduce your hot water usage while retaining the sensation of a powerful shower.
A water efficient shower head will make a saving on your gas, electric and water heating bill.
5. Swap the Bath for a Shower and Spend less time in the shower
Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save up to £7 a year off your energy bills, per person. With a water meter this could save a further £12 off annual water and sewerage bills.
6. Draught proofing
Unless your home is very new, you will lose some heat through draughts around doors and windows, gaps around the floor, or through the chimney.
You can DIY draughts proof your own home it is much cheaper than calling a professional in and won’t take much of your time to do it.
7. Take control of your heating
More than half the money spent on fuel bills goes towards providing heating and hot water.
Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves and using these controls efficiently could save you money every year.
If you already have a full set of controls, turning down your room thermostat by just one degree will add to your savings on your heating bill.
Whatever the age of your boiler the right controls will allow you to:
• Set your heating and hot water to come on and off when you need them
• Heat only the areas of your home that need heating, turn off radiators in rooms that you don’t use very often.
• Set the temperature for each area of your home.
8. Get savvy with smart controls
Use the latest technology and invest in a smart heating control. They are fantastic at helping you understand the energy you are using from the amount of heating you use to how many times you switch on and boil the kettle.
Smart control technology allows you to control your heating remotely via a mobile app, meaning that you can manage the temperature of your home from wherever you are, at whatever time of day.
9. Switch to LEDs
Replace your halogen spot lights with LEDS. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and fittings.
10. Turn off lights
Turn your lights off when you’re not using them. If you switch a light off for just a few seconds, you will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again, regardless of the type of light.
You can check out our energy saving calculator here.
Please contact us to discuss your electrical queries, projects or to arrange a quote via the contact page. Call and speak to Trevor directly on 01843 290107.
