Energy Saving Tips

[Richard]

he biggest long-term savings come from changing your energy habits and being more energy efficient around the home.

As you start to see savings its a good idea to re-invest this money in energy saving products and appliances to reduce your energy consumption even further. The long-term savings will more than pay for the cost of purchasing and installing these measures.

Start using these no-cost energy saving tips energy saving ideas around your home and measure the reduction in your next few energy bills. The more you apply the more you'll save.

Heating Tips

Set your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you expect to return.
Turn the room thermostat down by 1 degree. This can save you around £30 a year.
Make sure your radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
Draw your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
Insulate your loft space and consider cavity wall insulation too.
Electrical Appliances

Use energy efficient light bulbs which use less energy and last up to ten times longer than standard bulbs.
Turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, as they continue to use energy when they are left on standby.
Refrigeration

Don't leave the fridge door open and try to avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge as this increases the energy required to keep the contents cold.
Defrost your fridge frequently and check the door seals. Avoid putting your fridge next to heat generating appliances such as an oven or boiler. If possible, keep the freezer in a cool room or garage.
Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers and Dishwashers

Use a low temperature setting and only wash full loads or use a half-load or economy programme.
In summer, dry your clothes outside rather than using a tumble dryer.
When drying your clothes indoors, use a clothes rail instead of a radiator as this stops the heat from reaching the rest of the room.
Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand.
Cooking

Use a pan which is the same size as the cooker ring to prevent heat loss.
Use a lid on saucepans where possible, so the contents heat up faster and require less energy.
Consider using pressure cookers, steamers and microwaves which use less energy.
Hot Water

When using a kettle, only boil as much water as you need.
If you live in a hard water area, limescale can effect the efficiency of your kettle. Look out for a buildup of limescale in your kettle and treat with vinegar or descaling solutions.
Consider turning the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 60 degrees centigrade which is a comfortable temperature for most people and will save on your heating costs.
If you have a standard shower it will use around 40% of the water required for a bath.

[Richard]

Here are some more

Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs. These may cost more, but they use far less electricity than normal bulbs, saving you money in the long run. BUY NOW
Only boil the amount of water you really need in your kettle, and, if you're using an electric kettle, make sure you cover the elements. Jug-type kettles need less water as they have smaller elements. Energy Saving Kettles are also available.
Use the kettle to boil water for cooking, instead of heating a pan on the stove. Not only will this be more efficient, but it generally takes less time too.
Switch all electrical appliances off at the plug instead of using the 'standby' function. During standby the appliances are still using electricity, and astonishingly, this accounts for 6% of all electricity usage in the home.
Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly to keep them running efficiently and cheaply - if they frost up quickly, check the door seal. If your fridge is next to a cooker or boiler, leave a good gap between them.
Consider buying a Savaplug. These replace the usual plug at the back of the fridge and will cut energy use from the appliance by 20%.
When using washing machines and tumble dryers always wash a full load or use a half-load or economy programme. Always use the low temperature programme - modern washing powders are effective at lower temperatures. And don't put really wet clothes into a tumble dryer: wring them out or spin-dry them first. See below for tips on reducing your tumble dryer usage. Follow the links for information on energy saving washing machines and Energy Saving Tumble Dryers
Try not to use a tumble dryer unless absolutely necessary. On dry days use an outdoor clothes line for fresh-smelling laundry and on damp or very cold days dry your clothes inside. Airing cupboards are great for things you need quickly or use old fashioned clothes horses or overhead dryers.
If you have a computer which is busy downloading or burning a CD, switch the computer monitor off and remember not to leave it on standby when turning the computer off.
Only using your dishwasher when it is full could save you up to £15 a year.
Turn your microwave off at the wall when not in use. Powering the clock can use more power than heating your food!
Don't waste energy when using computers. Make use of power saving modes, turn off peripherals when they're not in use and make sure you switch everything off completely when you are finished (or at least go into hibernate mode).

[Richard]

Insulating your Loft could save you up to £150 per year and Cavity Wall nsulation could save a further £115 or more. APPLY FOR A FREE SURVEY NOW
Water does not need to be heated to a scalding temperature; for most people, setting the cylinder thermostat at around 60°C should be adequate for bathing and washing.
In Winter close your curtains at night to stop heat escaping.
Fit aluminium foil or reflective panels behind radiators. This reflects heat back into the room rather than the walls absorbing and losing the heat.
Stop draughts by attaching an easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal to your exterior doors. Fill gaps between floorboards & skirting boards with beading, sealant or newspaper. Follow the link for more information on Draught Proofing
Too warm? Why not turn the room thermostat down by 1°C and it could cut your heating bills by up to 10%.
The sun is the most readily available source of heat there is - and the cheapest! So make the most of it by opening internal doors of any rooms which get more sun than others and let the warm air travel through your home.
Hot water pipes can be insulated to stop heat escaping from them to good effect. The best pipes to insulate are the ones between the boiler and hot water cylinder. Cost is around £1 per metre. Saving is around £10 per year.
Setting your heating to turn off one hour before you leave the house and just half an hour before your return will mean that the heat is not wasted on an empty house.
If you have an old central heating system, consider having the radiators flushed to increase efficiency and reduce fuel bills.

[Richard]

Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth and you can save around 5 litres of water every time.
Put a Hippo in your toilet cistern. Hippo the Water Saver is the simple, proven and low cost water saving device to help conserve water in toilet cisterns. Every time a toilet is flushed the Hippo saves approximately 3 litres of water. BUY NOW
Dripping taps can waste up to 4 litres of water a day so make sure you replace worn tap washers.
Vegetables and fruit should be washed in a bowl not under a running tap. The leftover water can then be used for watering plants.

[sahlie]

Home energy conservation tips can help towards having a more energy efficient home.  An energy efficient home is something we should all strive for.  Not only can small steps be taken to lighten the "footprints" we leave behind for future generations. The best first step is to figure out what you're working with by conducting a home energy audit. Basically, you want to know how much energy you're currently using and where you're using it, in order to know where to take action. Are the windows really drafty? Are you using Energy Star-approved appliances? Do you only vaguely remember your vents being cleaned once, years ago? These are some basic factors you must consider.