Now the dark cold months are in full swing, have you noticed an unwanted rise in your electricity bills? Darker days mean more lights are being used throughout the house and the cold temperatures have led to many of us giving in to putting the heating on and use of other heating appliances.
If you are already feeling the strain, there are ways you can save some money on your electricity bills without the need of time or extra investments. Here are some quick and simple ways.
Replace Old Appliances
Old electrical equipment, such as fridges, freezers, and tumble dryers, use more energy than modern electrical appliances. If you are thinking about changes old appliances for new, now maybe the time to do so. The investment will help on your electrical costs moving forward.
Unplug Electrical Items
If you have electrical items not in use, make sure you unplug them. Items left plugged in still continue to drain power. This can add up to 5% more to your energy bills per year. Appliances that continue to drain power plugged in, include:
- Mobile phone chargers
- TV’s
- DVD players, games consoles
- Computers
- Microwave
- Anything with a standby function, clock or indicator light
Use a Smart Power Strip
Using a smart power strip will help to stop appliances draining energy when not in use. They allow you to individually control power sockets too, which is a real bonus. They are not very expensive and easy to install, and you can turn them on and off with ease.
Install Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches are a great way to save on energy costs. They offer options of reducing wattage with variable illumination.
Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
Lowering the temperature on your water heater will reduce costs. Having shorter showers rather than a bath will also help savings. If you are on vacation, make sure you turn your water tank off whilst it’s not in use.
Turn Off Your Dishwasher’s Heated Dry Feature
There is a lot to say about using a dishwasher compared to manually washing dishes, as it saves water and energy. However, turning off your dishwasher’s heated dry feature and using the air-dry cycle will actually save a lot of the total energy used by the dishwasher.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
You can save on electricity bills by using a programmable thermostat, which allows you to adjust temperatures when you are away from home. Your heating is one of the largest consumers of energy, with over 60% of your energy bills going into heating your home. Bu having a programmable thermostat, you can reduce your bills quite a lot, especially during the winter months.
At East Kent Electrical, we are proud to be a Nest approved installer. The Nest Thermostat gives you precise control of the temperature, creates a personalised schedule for your home and eliminates the need for a programmer. So, you can save energy, simply. To find out more, please contact us.
