USE SUMMER AS A TIME TO CUT BACK ON ENERGY
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After a challenging year for many people, summer represents an ideal time to use less energy with the warmer climate meaning we can (hopefully) turn off our heating and reduce electricity and water use.
Things you can do at home to cut Energy Costs:
Turn appliances of the socket. Electrical appliances such as computers, televisions, smart devices and video games consoles are dubbed ‘vampire devices’ because they draw power continuously unless unplugged. Turning off the power switch at the socket or unplugging the appliances when they’re not in use, could save you up to £70 a year.
Rethink Showering. Installing an energy-efficient showerhead could save you up to £55 a year as it reduces the amount of water used by either regulating the flow or aerating the water. If you have an electric shower some have an ‘eco’ mode. Also reducing showering times to four minutes will save water and money on energy bills – up to £90 a year. If the water is metered, it will also save money on the water bill.
Switch to LED bulbs. Switching to energy saving lightbulbs could save you up to £55 a year. Standard or incandescent lightbulbs are very energy inefficient. LED lightbulbs last longer than traditional bulbs saving on maintenance costs. The amount of light, or colour of the light (white to yellow), is not linked to a bulb’s energy usage, so you can get the same light at a much lower energy cost.
Avoid using the tumble dryer Using your tumble dryer less could save you £70 a year, as tumble dryers are one of the most energy intensive devices in the home. Use your tumble dryer less frequently by ensuring you have a full load (around 3/4 of the drum) or use a clothes airer to dry clothes outside or inside with the window open for ventilation. You should also avoid overfilling your dryer as this could lengthen the drying time.
Reduce the boiler flu temperature. If you own a combi boiler its flow can be reduced to around 60C (65C if you are a pensioner a have pre-existing health conditions). Flow temperature is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to radiators. Reducing it isn’t the same as lowering your thermostat and won’t noticeably reduce the temperature of your home, but it may increase the time it takes to reach the target temperature on your thermostat.
Have the heating system serviced. Summer is a quieter period and therefore it’s easier to find a professional engineer. Having it serviced now means that your heating is primed and ready for a cold snap.
Wash clothes at 30° C. Washing clothes at a lower temperature could save you up to £40 a year. Changing from 40C to 30C means you can get three cycles instead of two using the same amount of energy depending on the washing machine.
More energy saving tips can be found at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds