Tips and advice to save energy and reduce heating bills in the home.
No Cost Energy Saving Tips:
- Close your curtains at dusk in cold weather to reduce heat loss
- Reducing you heating by 1°C can cut up to 10% off heating bills
- Reduce the running hours of your heating
- Water needn't be heated to a scalding temperature. Setting the thermostat at 60° C (140° F) is usually quite adequate
- Don't leave your television or stereo on standby. The standby on some appliances can use up to 40% of the electricity if switched on
- Switch off or unplug mobile phone chargers when not in use
- Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to keep them running efficiently
- Don't put hot or warm food in the fridge - let it cool down first
- Where possible, position your fridge or freezer away from cookers or heaters
- Use the right sized pan for the food and cooker hob
- Keep saucepan lids on - this enables you to turn down the heat
- Avoid over-filling the kettle for just one drink but be sure to cover the element
- Use a kettle to boil water for cooking
- Use a toaster rather than a grill to make toast
Energy Efficient Electrical Appliances
To pick out energy efficient appliances from the pack, look out for the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo.
The distinctive blue and orange logo can be found on anything from fridges to tumble dryers, to dishwashers and light bulbs. It is a sure sign that the appliance being bought is one of the most efficient in its category.
The distinctive blue and orange logo can be found on anything from fridges to tumble dryers, to dishwashers and light bulbs. It is a sure sign that the appliance being bought is one of the most efficient in its category.
Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers, & Dishwashers
- An energy efficient washing machine uses a third of the energy of an old, inefficient model and cuts water consumption considerably
- Using a 40°C wash cycle rather than 60°C means you use a third less electricity. Reduce the wash to a 30°C cycle and the amount of electricity saved (not to mention money) will be even higher. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures so unless you have very dirty washing, bear this in mind
- An energy efficient dishwasher will cut energy wastage by nearly half on non-efficient models. When using your dishwasher or washing machine, it's better to wait for a full load, or use the economy cycle if your machine has one
- If you can’t always dry clothes outside, buy an efficient tumble dryer, and you can cut energy wastage by almost a third. To save further energy, avoid drying very wet clothes - wring or spin-dry them first. Not only will the clothes dry faster, but you will also save money.
Refrigeration
- Buying an energy efficient fridge freezer to replace your inefficient one could cut carbon dioxide emissions produced indirectly by your home up to 228 kg a year
- An energy efficient fridge freezer uses nearly a third of the energy to do the same job as a 10-year-old appliance - that's a saving of up to £35 a year
Free Home Energy Check
- For a free online home energy check survey from the Energy Saving Trust go to www.est.org.uk/check (external link)
Further Energy Efficiency DIY measures, printable leaflets below:
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