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:
Heating
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.
Lighting
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.
Electricity
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.
Water
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.
Insulation
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.
Food And Cookery
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.
Transport
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.
