|
Why do I need to save energy?
- It reduces your fuel bills
In the UK, we spend around £2.4 billion a year heating our homes and running our household
lights and appliances. The amount of heat we all lose annually through roofs and walls alone
is enough to heat 3 million homes for a year!
Energy efficiency makes your home feel warmer and less draughty. This makes your home
more comfortable and healthier to live in.
- It helps the environment
As well as reducing your fuel bills for years to come, you will be doing your bit for the
environment by conserving energy resources and reducing the threat of climate change.
Less demand for energy means that the power companies produce less energy, which means
they also produce less carbon dioxide. Carbon-dioxide emissions are believed to be one of the
main causes of global warming. If everyone uses less energy, the environmental benefits could
be enormous.
We all contribute to climate change because we all use energy, and lots of it! However, we can
all do our bit to help prevent climate change, and we can start in our own homes.
Top tips for saving energy and money
Why not cut your bills and make your home cosier in the winter and cooler in the summer with these
simple steps:
- Floor insulation
Gaps and draughts around skirting boards and floors are simple to fix yourself with a tube of
sealant. You can buy this from most DIY stores. You could save around £40 a year by this kind
of insulation.
- Appliances
Energy-saving products use less energy and therefore have less effect on the environment, as
well as being cheaper to run. The Energy Saving Recommended logo is an easy way to spot the
most energy-efficient products on the market. All new appliances must carry an energy label.
‘A’-rated appliances are the most energy efficient. Although they may cost more to buy, they
will provide savings in energy and running costs.
- Draw curtains early when it gets dark, and keep them closed all night
Keeping curtains closed will prevent heat escaping through windows. Remember to tuck
curtains behind radiators or put their bottom hem on the window sill to prevent draughts.
- Ensure thermostats and controllers are correctly set
Heating and hot water account for two-thirds of your fuel bills. A comfortable and economical
setting is between 18°C and 22°C. Remember that turning up the room thermostat will not
heat a room faster. Turning your thermostat down by one degree saves as much energy as
turning it off for two hours. It could cut your heating bills by up to 10%.
- Replace your light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs
Traditional light bulbs use an average of £13.30 a year in electricity. If possible, replace
traditional light bulbs with low-energy ones. On average they last up to 10 times longer and
use a quarter of the electricity.
- Don’t leave appliances on standby
Remember not to leave things on charge or standby unnecessarily. A mobile phone charger
left on, even when not charging, results in emissions of up to 20 kg of carbon dioxide a year. A
television on standby can result in over 60 kg of carbon dioxide a year.
- Showers use much less energy than baths
A shower uses only two-fifths of the amount of water needed for a bath, and needs less energy
to heat the water. You may also be able to save money if you have a water meter fitted.
- Always put the plug in a basin or sink
Try not to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands, as this
can waste up to five litres of water a minute.
- Don’t overfill the kettle – jug kettles are ideal
There’s no need to fill the kettle up to the top each time you boil it. Boiling a kettle half full
instead of full four times a day could save you enough electricity to run a TV set for four hours.
- Water needs to be hot but never scalding
For most people, setting the cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing and washing.
- When you are cooking, choose the right-size pan for the food and cooker
Keep lids on when cooking. Don’t use more water than you need or a bigger pan than you
need, as this wastes energy.
- Using your washing machine or dishwasher
Half-load programmes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water
and energy of a full load, so it is cheaper to wait until you have a full load. Try to use the lowtemperature
programme most of the time and you can make a big saving. Don’t put really
wet clothes in a tumble dryer. Wring them out or spin-dry them first. Or better still, you can put
them on the washing line to dry.
- Don’t leave the fridge door open
For every minute a fridge door is open it will take at least three minutes to regain its
temperature. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge; allow it to cool first.
Defrost your fridge regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. Try not to site your
fridge next to a cooker or boiler – leave a good gap between them.
You can download our 'Energy efficiency ' leaflet in PDF format below. |
