Slash your energy bill room by room
As worldwide energy prices soar 0NADA FARHOUD shares some useful tips for keeping your usage to a minimum
ENERGY bills could cost some households 40% of their income by October, it is predicted.
But there are ways to make small savings which all add up in the long run. Actions you can take right now, from loft and wall insulation to cutting back on the amount of heated water you use, will help save £100s on your gas and electricity bills, and ease the squeeze.
Here’s our guide to how to do it room by room...
IN THE BATHROOM
Your electric toothbrush, beard trimmer and shavers should hold their charge for several uses, so charge them only when needed.
Every UK household uses an average of 350 litres of water each day. Nearly half of an annual combined energy bill is from heating water. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this costs on average £228 a year.
A typical bath uses around 80-100 litres, whereas the average shower uses 50 litres – using less hot water will reduce bills.
Buying a more efficient shower head can save you as much as £18 per person a year. Try cutting a minute off your shower timer. Many time water by installing suppliers a now provide them for free.
If you’re on a meter, saving water will reduce your bill too.
IN THE KITCHEN
If you have a dishwasher, use it, rather than washing by hand. Modern dishwashers use 11 to 13 litres of water per cycle, while an average sink holds around 20 litres. Rinsing plates before they go in can use up to 24 litres of water a year. Always use the eco setting. It uses around 20% less water and energy.
Setting your washing machine to run at 30°C rather than 40°C can help cut your energy usage and save around £10 per year.
Try not to put wet clothes on radiators as it will reduce the efficiency of the heaters. If you need to tumble dry, wring clothes out or spin dry them first.
Only fill and boil the kettle with as much water as you need. Descale regularly to keep it working efficiently.
Similarly, use the smallest saucepan required for your cooking and put it on the burner that matches its base.
Defrost food in your fridge, because it will act like an ice pack to help cool the fridge, reducing the energy needed.
Defrost regularly and use a vacuum to clean the condenser coils at the back – dust can cut efficiency by 25%.
Also, invest in a slow cooker. They can cost as little as £12, and use very little electricity.
IN THE LIVING ROOM
The biggest use of energy in our homes is from heating. Lower your thermostat by 1°C and then keep going to see how low you can go.
The average thermostat is set at 22°C and reducing it by just 1°C can cut bills by around 10%. Set timers on your heating for when you most need it, such as in the evenings when people are using the living room, and turn off radiators you don’t regularly use.
Also, bleed your radiators a couple of times a year to remove trapped air and improve the efficiency of your heating.
Turn your appliances off standby mode and don’t leave devices on charge unnecessarily, to save on average £30 each year
IN THE LOFT
Try to insulate your home. Without it, houses lose approximately 35% of heat through the walls and 25% through the roof. Some 16 million homes in Britain don’t have the recommended 30cm of loft insulation, although it is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep heat in.
Mineral wool in your loft will last 40 years and pay for itself in one.
IN THE BEDROOM
Closing your bedroom curtains or shutters at dusk will stop heat escaping. To ensure your windows are draught-proof, add selfadhesive strips between gaps. This should help to keep the cold air out.
It is also a good idea to invest in seasonal bedding. This means buying a lightweight duvet so you won’t be sweltering in summer, while in winter a thicker duvet will keep you cosy and keep your energy bills down.
If you don’t have carpeted floors, you should be on the lookout for a rug as they are a simple means of insulation.