We’re all looking at ways to reduce our energy bills right now. While some actions, such as adding solar panels, require a significant outlay and aren’t possible for many of us, there are other simple ways to reduce your energy consumption that are surprisingly easy to implement.
Once you’ve turned on your heater or your air conditioner, you don’t want that newly cooled or warmed air to simply escape from your house. This requires a different approach in winter and summer, but the principle is the same: seal your house as best you can.
The most obvious way is to top up your roof insulation, but windows and floors are also worth checking. Seal any drafts around your windows and add thick, lined curtains in winter to trap the heat in, and pelmets for even more heat retention.
Houses also lose a lot of heat through the floor, so in winter, lay down floor rugs and check for gaps in floorboards that can be sealed – every little helps.
In summer, use fans strategically to direct air-conditioned air around the house. Keep windows covered during the day, particularly west-facing ones, and open them up at night to allow the hot air to flow outside.
Finally, think about just how warm or cold you need to be. In winter, you should set your thermostat to 18-20 degrees. Each degree higher than this will add 15% to your heating bill. Use slippers, warm clothes, throw rugs and hot water bottles to stay warm rather than heating your home to tropical temperatures. And in summer, wear light clothing, drink lots of water and find ways to stay cool without blasting the air-conditioning constantly.
Even a tiny red light on a device is drawing energy, so be vigilant about unplugging charged devices and turning off unused appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers use the most energy out of all household appliances, so using these machines mindfully can trim money off your bills.
• Rather than tumble drying, take advantage of the free energy of the sun to dry clothes naturally.
• Check clothes to get another wear out of them rather than automatically washing everything after one wear – even reducing your washing by one load a week will add up over a year. And only wash once you have a full load of clothes.
The kitchen is another place that generates a lot of energy, but there are ways to cut back on it, particularly in your choice of appliances.
• A microwave only heats the food, not the air around it, so if you re-heat a lot it can be a smart investment over time.
• Think about the size of your household and choose appliances accordingly. Replacing a large, older fridge with a smaller, energy-efficient one can reduce your bills a lot after the initial outlay. Keeping your fridge reasonably full will also help it run more efficiently, which is another good reason to not have a fridge that is bigger than you need.
• An old-fashioned housekeeping trick is to cook a pudding in the oven if you’re cooking a roast, for example. This is a good way of making the most of the heat generated and having something nice to eat afterwards.
While switching off unused lights is automatic for many of us, an often-forgotten energy guzzler is hot water.
• Reducing shower times and having showers instead of regular baths will greatly reduce heating costs.
• If you’re making a cup of tea, don’t fill the kettle to the brim. Only heat as much water as you need, as there is no point heating water that will soon go cold again.
• Reduce the water temperature in your washing machine to 30 degrees, or to cold.
One of the smartest ways to reduce household spending is to look at our energy usage around the house, and implement some easy changes to reduce it. These switches quickly become habits and will not only save your money, but are also good for the planet.
