Simple energy advice is often exactly that. It’s the advice that seems obvious, but how many of us follow it? This winter we’re all feeling the pinch, so we have some simple energy advice that can help you save energy and reduce your bills.
Water Tank
The first bit of simple energy advice is one that we hear all the time. It’s the water tank. It’s important to check that your water tank has been properly insulated, as heating water uses more energy than almost anything else in your home. Your tank should have a lagging jacket that is at least three inches thick. Doing this can reduce your heating costs by up to 30%.
Use The Dishwasher
A dishwasher is much more efficient than you are. It uses much less hot water than you would if you were washing dishes by hand. Wait until you have a full load in the dishwasher, and if you know when your energy is at its lowest rate, run it then.
Washing Machine
Around 80% of the energy that your washing machine uses is on heating the water. It’s why the ‘Eco’ setting takes longer – it uses less energy, but over a longer period of time. You can use this setting and turn your washing machine temperature to 30 degrees. You should also try to only use the machine when you have a full load to do.
Turn Your Thermostat Down
Did you know that many energy experts say that everyone should follow this simple energy advice? Turn the thermostat down to 20 degrees. If this feels a little cool, add clothing layers instead of upping the thermostat.
Energy-efficient Appliances
If you need to replace any of your appliances, consider spending a little more and buying a model with a better energy efficiency rating. The rating system for appliances runs from A to G, with A being the most efficient. You should also check the model to see if they give an amount of electricity used per cycle, or per hour. This will also help indicate how much electricity the appliance will use, and therefore what effect it will have on your bills.
Replace Lightbulbs
If you can, replace your lightbulbs with low-energy bulbs. An LED bulb uses 80% to 90% less electricity than a regular bulb, and these are savings that you can see on your bills. LED bulbs also last about ten times as long as a regular bulb, so you won’t need to replace them as often.
Check Your Fridge
The fridge uses more energy than almost any other appliance in your home. It’s the one appliance that needs to run all day. Try not to leave the fridge door open for too long as you’re taking food out, or putting it in. For every ten or twenty seconds that the door is open, it takes around forty-five minutes for the fridge to get back to temperature. Also doing things like making sure that food isn’t put into the fridge hot, as it will need to use more energy to cool hot food. The best setting for your fridge is around three or four.
Standby
Standby electricity loss could be adding money onto your bills. It’s when appliances are still receiving power, but they themselves are in standby mode. It’s also known as phantom, or vampire electricity, and it could make up as much as 10% of your total electricity usage. Instead of leaving things on standby, turn them off at the plug.
Eliminate Draughts
This is simple energy advice, but it makes a lot of sense. The smallest things can make a huge amount of difference. For example, keeping doors closed helps keep the heat in the room. Having a draught excluder under the door is a big help as well. Other things include making sure that there’s a good seal on your windows and your letterbox.
Smart Meter
A smart meter can help you see where and how you’re using electricity. This means that you can use it to move your usage to less costly times of the day. Perhaps it would be cheaper to wash your laundry at night, or maybe you should run your dishwasher first thing in the morning.
Change Suppliers
You might not be getting the best deals by staying with your energy supplier outside of your contract. Check comparison websites and see which suppliers are offering the best deals. Changing could be the quickest, easiest, and most simple energy advice that can save you money.
