Energy saving
tips
Here are 10 simple energy saving
tips which won't cost you a penny and will save you money on your
fuel bills.
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature
by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and
typically saves around £50 per year. If you have a programmer, set
your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather
than all the time.
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set
at 60°C/140°F.
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the
windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave
laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
- If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or
dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half
loads.
- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the
elements if you're using an electric kettle).
- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes
enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make
sure they're fully turned off!
- Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer
than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £45 over the
lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £70 over its
lifetime if you're replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or
one used for more than a few hours a day.
- Freeze your leftovers, or eat them the next day. Wasted food
makes a big contribution towards carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions