Top Ten Energy Tips

Below are the top ten energy saving tips that can help you to reduce your energy consumption which will reward you with cheaper fuel bills and a reduction in your carbon footprint;

1 - Understand your bill

The information displayed on your fuel bills can sometimes be confusing but understanding it can help you to get to grips with your energy use.

2 - Switch off Standby

Nearly all electrical appliances are able to be turned off at the wall without effecting their programming - it is also possible to use a standby saver which allows you to turn off all your appliances in one go.

Check the instructions of any appliances you are unsure of.  Some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so as not to disrupt and programme recordings you have set up.

3 - Care with Kitchen Appliances

By using your kitchen appliances more carefully you can save energy and money.  Try the below tips to help;

• Use a bowl when doing the washing up instead of filling up the sink with hot water
• When using the kettle only boil the amount of water you need instead of filling it up
• If possible, wash at 30 degrees and on a full load.

4 - Use the shower instead of the bath

If you have a shower that uses water that comes from your boiler or a hot water tank (instead of an electric shower) you can fit an energy efficient head - this can help reduce your hot water usage without a noticeable difference in performance.

5 - Spend less time in the shower

You can save water and energy by spending one minute less in the shower. You could try using a shower timer to help you stick to a certain time.

6 - Draught Excluders

Apart from very new homes you will be losing some heat through draughts around openings in your house such as doors, windows and chimneys.  By using draught excluders at doors and DIY measures around windows and skirting boards you can reduce the rate at which heat loss occurs in your home and save energy and money.

7 - Control your heating

By having a room thermostat, a programmer/timer and thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) installed, you can better control your heating and realise potential savings.

8 - Use Smart Controls

As well as the above heating controls there has been recent development in Smart Controls which allow you to control your heating remotely via an app on your phone or tablet - this allows you to control your heating even when you are not home to ensure none is being wasted.

9 - Fit LEDs

LED spotlights as well as energy saving bulbs ('compact fluorescent lamps' or CFLs) are now available to replace the light bulbs you have in your home and now come in a variety of sizes and fittings to replace both traditional and halogen bulbs.

10 - Turn off your lights

You should treat your lights like your electrical appliances - when you are not using them you should turn them off.  Even if you switch a light off for only a few seconds you will save more energy than it takes for the light to come back on - regardless of the type of light.