TIPS

Home Energy Saving Tips That Save You Money

Heating

Turn down your thermostat. For every degree you lower your heat in the 22°C to 17°C range, you'll save up to 10 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat to 20°C degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting. Set the thermostat back to 15 degrees at night or when leaving home for an extended time

Hot Water Tank

An insulating jacket for a hot water tank only costs a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year. If every UK household fitted a jacket on their tank tomorrow, we'd save over £95 million of energy every year!

Light Bulbs

If you use a particular light for an average of four hours or more a day, then replace it with an energy-saving equivalent - which will use around a quarter of the electricity and last up to 12 times longer. Each energy efficient bulb fitted could give you an estimated saving of £9 off your energy bill per year

Hot Water

Of course it should be hot, but it doesn't need to be scalding. For most people, setting the cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing and washing. This can save up to £150 per year. Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. You use 60-90 litres of hot water for a bath, but less than 35 litres gallons during a 5-minute shower

Kettles

Heat the amount of water you really need and if you're using an electric kettle, make sure you cover the elements. More modern kettles have no visible element so you use less water, you could also try to fill a cup and use it as a guide to fill the kettle, so that you boil the right amount of water

Curtains

At night, pull the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows. Take care not to drape curtains over radiators as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows

Television, DVD and Computers

Switch off your TV, DVD or Video at the set. Standby can use as much as 10%-60% of the electricity that would be used by the device if it was switched on. Also don't forget to turn your Computer monitor off, as it too wastes electricity if left on

Appliances

When purchasing kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers and washing machines, opt for a more energy efficient appliance. An EU Energy Label should be displayed (A to G Scale) on appliances for sale in order to help you make a choice, "A" being the most efficient and "G" being the worst guzzler for energy

Tumble Driers

Tumble driers are energy guzzlers so try to use washing lines or airers.
Don't put very wet clothing into the dryer, make sure you wring clothing out or spin dry again to help use less energy.

Fridges/Freezers

These are the most hardworking appliances in the home.
Avoid putting Warm or Hot Foods in the fridge, let them cool down first.
Don't leave the Fridge or Freezer door open, this means the fridge uses more energy to cool itself back down due to the cool air lost opening the door.

Insulation

Upgrading loft and, where possible, cavity insulation, will save energy in your home by reducing energy losses through the building fabric
Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy and you can even install it yourself. Insulate you loft today and in a year you could between £180 and £220. Around 33% of the heat lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them can be the most cost-effective way to save energy in the home - you could save £130 to £160 on your annual heating bills! Cavity wall insulation will also keep you cool in the summer and warm in winter. It's straightforward, inexpensive and hassle-free

Switch to high-efficiency boilers

If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. You should have your boiler professionally serviced at least once a year. A clean and serviced appliance will operate more economically and will have a longer service life.

Eliminate draughts

Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too. You can install draught proofing yourself

Alternative Tips

Sitting still watching TV is the worst way to keep warm. Clean the top of the kitchen units. Wash all the windows. Go for a walk. You'll soon find yourself feeling warmer. (Mind you, we should talk…)

Insist a friend moves in with you. Tell her (or him) it’s vital to do so for the environment’s sake. A person’s body gives off about the same heat as a one kilowatt electric fire, so cuddle up to keep warm

Unplug that spare refrigerator in the garage that you use to store the booze - this seemingly convenient way to keep the drinks cold adds 10-25 percent to your electric bill

Ditch the New Year diet. It’s not working so tell your friends that it’s scientifically proven that a layer of natural insulation is no bad thing

Wear clothes. Only in the Big Brother house do people go around in t-shirts in the middle of winter. There is nothing to be ashamed about wearing a woolly jumper indoors - so put on your chunkiest, and keep the thermostat down





TIPS Home Energy Saving Tips That Save You Money Heating Turn down your thermostat. For every degree you lower your heat in the 22°C to 17°C range, you'll save up to 10 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat to 20°C degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting. Set the thermostat back to 15 degrees at night or when leaving home for an extended time Hot Water Tank An insulating jacket for a hot water tank only costs a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year. If every UK household fitted a jacket on their tank tomorrow, we'd save over £95 million of energy every year! Light Bulbs If you use a particular light for an average of four hours or more a day, then replace it with an energy-saving equivalent - which will use around a quarter of the electricity and last up to 12 times longer. Each energy efficient bulb fitted could give you an estimated saving of £9 off your energy bill per year Hot Water Of course it should be hot, but it doesn't need to be scalding. For most people, setting the cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing and washing. This can save up to £150 per year. Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household. You use 60-90 litres of hot water for a bath, but less than 35 litres gallons during a 5-minute shower Kettles Heat the amount of water you really need and if you're using an electric kettle, make sure you cover the elements. More modern kettles have no visible element so you use less water, you could also try to fill a cup and use it as a guide to fill the kettle, so that you boil the right amount of water Curtains At night, pull the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows. Take care not to drape curtains over radiators as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows Television, DVD and Computers Switch off your TV, DVD or Video at the set. Standby can use as much as 10%-60% of the electricity that would be used by the device if it was switched on. Also don't forget to turn your Computer monitor off, as it too wastes electricity if left on Appliances When purchasing kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers and washing machines, opt for a more energy efficient appliance. An EU Energy Label should be displayed (A to G Scale) on appliances for sale in order to help you make a choice, "A" being the most efficient and "G" being the worst guzzler for energy Tumble Driers Tumble driers are energy guzzlers so try to use washing lines or airers. Don't put very wet clothing into the dryer, make sure you wring clothing out or spin dry again to help use less energy. Fridges/Freezers These are the most hardworking appliances in the home. Avoid putting Warm or Hot Foods in the fridge, let them cool down first. Don't leave the Fridge or Freezer door open, this means the fridge uses more energy to cool itself back down due to the cool air lost opening the door. Insulation Upgrading loft and, where possible, cavity insulation, will save energy in your home by reducing energy losses through the building fabric Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy and you can even install it yourself. Insulate you loft today and in a year you could between £180 and £220. Around 33% of the heat lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them can be the most cost-effective way to save energy in the home - you could save £130 to £160 on your annual heating bills! Cavity wall insulation will also keep you cool in the summer and warm in winter. It's straightforward, inexpensive and hassle-free Switch to high-efficiency boilers If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. You should have your boiler professionally serviced at least once a year. A clean and serviced appliance will operate more economically and will have a longer service life. Eliminate draughts Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too. You can install draught proofing yourself Alternative Tips Sitting still watching TV is the worst way to keep warm. Clean the top of the kitchen units. Wash all the windows. Go for a walk. You'll soon find yourself feeling warmer. (Mind you, we should talk…) Insist a friend moves in with you. Tell her (or him) it’s vital to do so for the environment’s sake. A person’s body gives off about the same heat as a one kilowatt electric fire, so cuddle up to keep warm Unplug that spare refrigerator in the garage that you use to store the booze - this seemingly convenient way to keep the drinks cold adds 10-25 percent to your electric bill Ditch the New Year diet. It’s not working so tell your friends that it’s scientifically proven that a layer of natural insulation is no bad thing Wear clothes. Only in the Big Brother house do people go around in t-shirts in the middle of winter. There is nothing to be ashamed about wearing a woolly jumper indoors - so put on your chunkiest, and keep the thermostat down