Energy Saving Tips That Really Work

Worried About Paying Your Energy Bills? If you’re finding it hard to keep up with your energy costs, you’re not alone and help is available.

First things first, talk to your energy supplier. If you've missed a payment (or think you might), it's really important to get in touch. They can give you advice and may help you set up a manageable payment plan.

There are also Government Schemes designed to support people struggling with energy bills. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website to see what help you could get.

Making small changes at home can add up to big savings and implementing the tips below, could save you money.

Quick Wins:

• Switch off standby. Even when appliances are on standby, they still use electricity. You can save around £65 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode. 
• Use a bowl when washing up. Using a washing-up bowl saves money and resources by preventing water waste. Washing dishes under a running tap sends litres of water and energy down the drain, whereas a bowl lets you control the water amount to only what you need.
• Only boil what you need. Kettles are one of the most used appliances in the kitchen. But many of us will admit that we occasionally boil the kettle with more water than we’re going to use. Avoid overfilling the kettle and save yourself upto £13 a year.
• Swap to LED bulbs. Replacing all the lights in your home with LED bulbs may be more costly upfront, but will save you money long term.
• Turn your lights off when you’re not using them or when you leave a room. This can save you around £25 a year on your annual energy bills.   

In the Bathroom:

• Fitting a water efficient showerhead is another great way to make savings. They use around six litres of water a minute, which is half the amount of a standard showerhead.
• Some of us might enjoy a long soak in the bath but swapping just one bath a week with a four-minute shower could save you £20 a year on your energy bills.
• An average toilet uses around two gallons of water per flush. Cistern displacement devices can be popped into your toilet cistern- when you flush, the device inflates, saving you save water every time you flush.

Around the House:

• Draught-proof doors and windows. Unless your home is very new, it’s likely you’ll lose some heat through draughts. Having warm air means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so you’ll save money as well as keeping your home warm in the colder months.
• Turning down your thermostat by 1°C is cost-effective because it reduces the amount of energy your heating system needs to run to maintain your desired temperature, leading to lower energy bills whilst keeping your home comfortable.