HOW TO CUT YOUR ENERGY USE IN FACE OF SOARING PRICES
A FEW small adjustments to your home and habits could reap big savings, says Marc Robson, smart energy expert at British Gas. “Every time I visit a customer’s home, I find there’s a little tweak that can help them become more energy efficient.”
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
Do it whenever you leave the room. Replacing all the bulbs in your home with energy-efficient alternatives cuts £40 a year off the typical electricity bill.
SHUT OUT THE COLD
Draught excluders are an easy and affordable way to reduce heat loss. As well as sealing the joins around your doors and windows, consider letter-box brushes, chimney balloons and even keyhole coverings.
FIT FOIL PANELS
Adding reflector panels behind your radiators will bounce more of the infra-red heat rays back into your room, while less warmth gets lost through the wall.
BE LAUNDRY SMART
Always put a full load in the washing machine and try to do a week’s laundry in one go. Its economy setting can save water and energy.
CUT KITCHEN COSTS
Turn the oven off 10 minutes before your food is ready as the heat build-up means it will keep on cooking. Leaving the door open afterwards helps warm the room. Cover your pots and pans on the hob.
INSULATE YOUR LOFT
About a quarter of the heat loss in your home is through the roof, and insulation can save you £250 a year.
BE ENERGY SMART
If you have a smart meter, check your energy usage to reveal the most energyconsuming appliances and make savings.
LITTLE SAVINGS CAN ADD UP
There are small things you can do to help keep your bills down, said Abigail Yearley of TopCashBack.co.uk.
“Move bulky furniture like sofas and armchairs away from your radiators as they will absorb the heat. Buying thicker curtains will reduce the amount of heat that escapes at night. Shut the doors to the rooms in your home not used during winter and turn off the radiators.” Martyn Bridges, director of product management at Worcester Bosch, suggests having shorter showers and turning off the water while lathering. “One minute a day could save a fortune on your annual bill with prices so high. Turning down your thermostat by a single degree could save £80 a year.”
Unplugging electronics when not in use, rather than leaving them on standby, saves around £35 a year, says the Energy Saving Trust.
A dishwasher heats up air to dry the dishes. Turning this setting off cuts energy usage.
Only filling the kettle with the amount of water you need saves around £6 a year, the EST said. A boiler service can pay for itself by boosting your system’s efficiency and reducing the chance of a breakdown.