In the face of rising energy prices, becoming more energy efficient is a must so you’re getting the most out of your energy.
The average home uses nearly three times as much energy in the winter compared with in the summer. With the cold weather at the moment, we understand that these rising costs can be worrying, so we’ve put together some tips which can help you stay warmer and save money too.
There are some small things you can do every day to help save on your bills, as well as some things you can invest in which will pay themselves back over time with the savings they provide - we’ve outlined these below:
Take some time to understand your heating controls
Setting your heating system to only come on when you need it can make a big saving. If you’re not sure how to use your heating system, read the manual to see how to set it up correctly – if you can’t find your manual, you can usually find them online on the manufacturer’s website.
It might seem simple, but just by setting up your heating system correctly, you can make a big saving – if you can turn down your thermostat by 1°C, you could save up to 10% on your bill!
If you have a heat pump, try to keep it at an even temperature so that it remains most efficient.
Radiator tips
If you have a radiator with a valve, remember to turn off the ones that you’re not using. In the rooms where you are using your radiators, try to keep the door shut so that the heat stays in the room for longer.
If you have a radiator under a window with long curtains, don’t hang the curtains over the radiator while you’re using it as the heat can escape through the window more easily rather than heating the room.
If you’ve got any furniture in front of your radiators, try to move it somewhere else as furniture can absorb the heat from your radiator which means it isn’t being spread around the room. By moving it out of the way, your radiator will be more efficient, and your home will warm up faster.
Turn off things you aren’t using!
It sounds simple, but lots of people often forget to turn off things that they aren’t using, and the cost can add up. Even things like your oven are still using electricity to power the clock when you’re not using them to cook, so switch it off at the wall to save yourself some pennies.
Do you spend a long time showering?
If you’re spending a long time in the shower, then more water is being used as a result.
You can make a saving and change your habits by timing yourself and trying to speed up your routine!
You can also buy an aerated shower head for your shower which allows you to control the rate at which water comes out. By turning the rate down, you’ll be using less water as you shower, and because of the aeration it will still feel like a normal shower but with the added benefit of costing you less.
Have you switched to LED lightbulbs?
Replacing traditional lightbulbs with LED bulbs will cost you up front, but we estimate that these will pay themselves back within a year as they use around 90% less energy than traditional bulbs.
Try to rely on natural light during the day and only use lights when it starts to get dark.
If you find that the natural light in your home is too bright, try adding some cheap window tinting film over your windows. This will still let light through, but it won’t be as bright – and as an added benefit, tinted windows help to keep heat inside your home during the winter and keep heat outside of your home during the summer.
Wash your clothes at a lower temperature
By reducing the temperature of your wash, you could be saving lots every year – if you wash your clothes at 60°C, try reducing this to 30°C as it could save you up to 40% on your bill!
Try to dry your clothes outside, if possible, instead of using a tumble dryer, as these can cost up to 45p per hour to run. Drying clothes indoors can also cause damp and mould inside your home.
Want more tips to save energy?
The Energy Saving Trust have more information and useful tips on their website if you want to learn more about how you can get the most out of your energy.
