The average household spends £1,254 a year on heating and power, according to Ofgem. That’s about 2-3 weeks’ wage of the average worker in the UK.
Also, around 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes, so cutting down your fuel use is a great environmental action you can take.
Everyone should be asking themselves - what am I doing to reduce my consumption and cut my bills?
There are easy solutions to saving electricity that take little time and effort:
Mistake #1 Always on. Banish the standby! By routinely switching your appliances off at the wall rather than leaving it on standby, you could knock £50 a year off your energy bill.
Mistake #2 Lights blazing - Turn off the lights! It is easy to switch off lights and by using energy-saving light bulbs, you can reduce bills by £37 a year.
Mistake #3 No Eco - opt for the most efficient product on the market. When it comes to buying any new appliances, going for one with a high energy-efficiency rating is worth the investment. If you’re unsure about the rating system, The Energy Saving Trust have created a handy guide to energy rating labels here.
Don’t get yourself all hot and bothered over the heating bill – see where you can change to increase your energy spending power.
Turning the thermostat way up – By turning down the thermostat by 1 degree, you can save 10% on your heating bill, up to £80 a year!
Mistake #5 Hindering the Heat - don’t disregard your radiator. Make sure that your radiators have room to heat up the space.
Mistake #6 Letting draughts crack on - Saving is a breeze with draught proofing. There are easy solutions to keep your warm air in and the cold air out, meaning less energy needed to heat your home.
Be aware: some openings in your home are for ventilation, so make sure not to block those up to ensure fresh air can come in, especially in rooms that get wet, like the bathroom and kitchen – sealing these rooms too much can run the risk of damp and mould.
Mistake #7 Washing is a wipe out. Wash smart.
Mistake #8 The notorious tumble dryer. Air dry - energy-hungry and expensive to run, the use of a tumble dryer should be limited. Try to air your washing whenever possible instead. If everyone in the UK with a tumble dryer dried their washing outside during the summer, we’d save around £180 million a year!
Mistake #9 Blasting the hot water. Swap a bath or long shower with a five-minute shower. If everyone stuck to 5 minutes, we’d save enough water to supply one million homes a day.
Mistake #10 Getting into hot water by leaving the tap on. Try running cold water where you can – not in the shower, of course, but when washing your hands and cleaning your teeth. It will save energy from heating up the water.
The government often has schemes available to help you make energy efficient repairs and tackle the big jobs like wall and loft insulation.
