Simple hacks to cut your energy bills in enforced lockdown
ith millions of people having to work at home or self-isolate during current coronavirus pandemic, householders could find a hike in their energy bills during a time of year when they are normally lower.
Data experts at home energy saving assistant Loop have shared simple steps to help reduce energy usage and make sure your home is as efficient as possible.
Some appliances need to be left on all the time (like a fridge or freezer) or kept on standby (like a smart speaker) but many appliances are left on that don’t need to be. This background electricity use is known as “Phantom Load” because of the way in which energy is invisibly drained without users necessarily knowing about it.
Understanding Phantom Load lurking in your home and what’s contributing towards it is important, as homeowners can often make simple changes that can lead to significant savings. With more people at home following
Wgovernment advice, Loop is urging homeowners to identify any appliances that could be switched off. Analysis of Loop data found the average UK household could be wasting up to £140 unnecessarily through their Phantom Load, while in some homes this could be as much as £450. These figures could increase with more people working from home.
Loop Head of Data Science Steve Buckley explained: “Spending more time at home usually equates to higher energy bills. However, we’ve seen that even making simple changes can make a big difference to your wallet.
“Phantom Load is not to be underestimated and there are some obvious culprits to look out for. By going around each room in your house to see what’s on standby, you can drastically reduce your energy waste and spend.
“However, Phantom Load is different in every household, and not every cause of wasted energy is obvious.
“But for many people it’s not just about saving money – using less energy is also about helping to tackle climate change”.