Energy Saving Tips

There are many changes that can be made  to save energy on a day-to-day basis. Below are some tips to save energy and save you money in different aspects of everyday life:

• Turn your central heating thermostat down – a reduction of only 1°C can save up to £50 a year; in addition, turning the radiators off or down in rooms which you do not use as often will avoid heating the whole house unnecessarily.
• Time your central heating to switch off half an hour before you leave the house: radiators continue to provide heat for some time after turning off; and don’t forget to turn off your central heating when you leave the house.
• The recommended temperature for hot water cylinder thermostats is 60°C – check that yours is running efficiently.
• Consider shortening the time that you have your heating on, for example, reducing usage by 30 minutes each day.

• Remember to switch the light off when you leave the room.
• Use energy saving light bulbs, especially for rooms which are used more often. These use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than normal bulbs, potentially saving you £40 a year.
• If you have halogen bulbs, consider changing the light fitting, or use LED light bulbs.

• Turn off your appliances at the socket to avoid using the standby function, which uses energy when appliances are not in use; after recharging any electrical devices, such as your mobile phone, make sure you unplug the charger.
• Consider doing your laundry at 30°C, as this could mean using around 40% less energy; also consider using a quick wash cycle.
• Whenever possible, hang your laundry out to dry instead of using a tumble drier.
• When buying new appliances, look out for energy saving recommended products and buy A-rated appliances wherever possible.

• Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need.
• When you are running the hot water tap waiting for it to warm up, consider saving this water for alternative purposes, such as watering the plants.
• Connect a water storage butt from the gutter of your shed/house roof to collect rainwater for watering your garden.
• Consider taking a shower instead of a bath as this uses less water.

• Check your loft is sufficiently insulated: about a quarter of heat can be lost through the roof of a house.
• Draught proof windows and doors – keeping draughts out means you will need to use your central heating less often to warm up your home.
• Try to ensure your curtains are lined and close them at night to stop heat loss through the windows.

• Reuse your shopping carrier bags or use natural fibre bags made from hessian, jute or cotton to carry your shopping; also avoid using the plastic bags provided for loose fruit and vegetables.
• Consider how you cook your food: keeping it warm not only uses more energy but dries it out.
• Use the right size pan for the hob size and the amount of food you are cooking; also keep the lid on a saucepan, which should enable you to reduce the heat a little.
• Use a toaster rather than the grill when making toast.
• Consider cooking double portions and freezing one, as well as freezing leftovers for another day.

• Consider walking or using a bike for short journeys. This is a good way to save fuel and to keep fit.
• Cold engines may take up to 5 miles to become effective, and use nearly double the amount for fuel.
• Check your tyre pressure: low tyre pressures can use additional fuel.
• Aim to drive at a steady speed, avoiding sharp acceleration.
• Go up a gear as soon as possible: look at your rev counter. You should change up before 2,500 rpm for petrol and 2,000 for diesel.
• Avoid braking sharply – decelerating slowly is better.
• Roof and bike racks reduce fuel efficiency: remove these when not in use.
• Air conditioning increases fuel consumption, consider opening your windows to cool the inside of your car instead.