How to save on energy costs and help our planet at the same time
Looking at ways we can reduce our energy use and bills has to be a worthwhile exercise, says
According to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), 40 per cent of the UK’S energy consumption and one fifth of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions stem from powering and heating homes and other buildings.
Significant changes, including urgent legislation and well targeted financial support from the Government are therefore arguably key if the UK is to achieve its climate change goals by 2050.
For example, around 90 per cent of UK homes rely on gas boilers to provide heating, with a widely suitable and cost-effective alternative not currently obvious. Options ranging from electric boilers to heat source pumps can cost anything from £2,000-£20,000 and aren’t suitable for installation in many homes, particularly those that are poorly insulated, and the UK lags behind most of Europe on this front. Successive governments have introduced grant scheme after grant scheme but in truth they’ve barely scratched the surface. Most recently, the now defunct Green Homes Deal helped to insulate fewer than 6,000 homes against a target of 600,000. Combine this lack of progress with the need to tackle the climate emergency, soaring energy prices and a cost-of-living crisis and looking hard at ways we can reduce our energy use and bills has to be a worthwhile exercise? Here are some suggestions to get you started…
Escaping heat
If your home hasn’t been well insulated or your windows and doors are decades old, you could be wasting lots of energy (and money!) generating heat that is quickly being lost. If you can’t afford to directly address these bigger issues, ensure that your radiators are operating efficiently, insulate water cylinders and pipes, cap and safely seal any open chimneys, invest in thick curtains, use draft excluders, place seating in the warmer areas in rooms and capture heat by leaving your oven open after use.
Dial down
A study by a leading comparison website found that 10 per cent of the UK routinely set their thermostat to at least 25C, whilst in the UK the average is 20C. Reducing that by just 1C to 19C could save the average household at least £80 a year – remember to dress warmly at home during colder
months.
Boiling point
If you have a condensing combi boiler, you could save up to 8 per cent on your gas bill just by turning the flow temperature down, according to the Heating and Hot Water Council. Always consult your manual to ensure you use the correct minimum setting.
Don’t get in a spin
Up to 90 per cent of the energy consumed when using a washing machine comes from heating the water. According to the Energy Saving Trust, washing at 30C rather than 40C reduces your energy consumption by around 60 per cent per cycle. A cool wash setting can save you around 25 per cent more energy than using ‘eco mode’.
On the line
Around 60 per cent of UK households own a tumble dryer but, worryingly, a single cycle can produce nearly 2kg
of CO2 and use 4kwh of energy. Try to live without a tumble dryer – dry clothes outside whenever you can and inside on a clothes line if not.
Stay cool
Fridges and freezers account for up to one tenth of our home energy usage. Fridges should be set at between 1C and 5C – don’t have yours set colder than you need.
Standby for savings
From TVS to games consoles, laptops to kitchen appliances, don’t leave them on overnight and when not in use. The Energy Saving Trust’s research suggests that up to 16 per cent of our home energy is used to power devices in standby mode.
Lightbulb moment
Similarly, don’t leave any lights on around the house. Also, switch to LED bulbs which can last for decades with any luck and use up to 90 per cent less energy.
Get certified
Consider having your home assessed and getting an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) done. It will show you how energy efficient your home is and may provide helpful suggestions as to improvements you could make.