22 Million people in the UK are facing a spike in energy costs will find out shortly how much more they will have to pay.
Ofgem’s new price cap is likely to add hundreds of pounds onto the annual bill this will be another key factor in the rising cost of living. Over the past 12 month we have seen the cost of food, mortgages & petrol increase adding more financial burden to most people within the UK.
The concept of sustainability is increasing day by day. Energy conservation starts at your home and you need to take baby steps to save money and help the environment at the same time.
19 tips to help reduce your energy bills
- Turn Off Lights
Well, let’s start with the simplest tip, turn off all the lights when you are leaving a room. Make this your habit, it will decrease power consumption and in turn, you will save money.
- Maximum Use of Sunlight
In the morning, open your curtains to let in the light, it will warm your house and you can avoid leaving on lights. Lighting accounts for about 12% of an energy utility bill.
- Switch to LED lights
Replace halogen bulbs with smart LED lights, they are affordable and look stylish. Switching to LED lights is good for the environment and saves a good chunk of money
- Rearrange Furniture and Seal Cracks
The home heating system is costly but you can control your bills by rearranging your furniture. Don’t put any bulky furniture in front of the radiator as the furniture will absorb the heat and it will take more time to warm the room. Similarly, sealing cracks and gaps can increase the insulation of a home by 10%.
- Better Appliances
Washing machines and refrigerators are the most power-consuming appliances, you can switch them with energy-efficient appliances. They can cut down energy consumption. Defrosting your refrigerators and freezers increases their life span. In addition, replacing the appliances if they are old is another technique to put a low burden on energy usage.
- Unplug Electronics
There is no need to leave the devices on all day long. Only turn on the computer, fax machine, and printer when you are using it and then unplug to lower the energy consumption, Also switching to an electrical vehicle is a great idea, but if you are charging one at home remember to unplug it once fully charged.
- Usage of Microwave
You can easily cook your food in the microwave in place of the Oven. Microwaves consume less energy, save about 80% energy as compared to the Oven and cook efficiently small portions of food. There is no need to use automatic timers to switch off the microwave as this also uses power, in other words, manually unplug the microwave when you are not using it.
- Cook Faster
Whenever you are cooking on a stove, you should cover your pan with its lid. This technique will keep the heat inside the pan and food will take less time to cook. Eventually, it will help lower your gas and electricity bills.
- Lowering Your Carbon Footprint
If your windows and doors are single panes, then replace them with double glazing windows and doors. They are the perfect solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will reduce your carbon footprint and save money as well. in addition, set your air conditioning temperature to a lower setting to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
- Keep Track of Energy Consumption
It is a simple technique to keep track of energy consumption by using a smart meter. You can easily check the peak hour and reduce the consumption in these hours.
- Use Colder Water
It is important to wash your clothes in colder water, it will reduce your electricity bill and save water. In other words, heating the water will take time and energy, washing clothes at lower temperatures will save this cost.
- Charge Your Devices
Charge the devices during the daytime and use their batteries in the nighttime. Smartphones take 2 hours to complete the charging but if you put on your charger for a whole night, extra power consumption and it will also affect the battery of the smartphone and reduce its life span.
- Switch to Solar Power
You can switch to a renewable source of energy like the Solar system. Replace the devices with solar devices as they are more energy-efficient so they will lower the maintenance and replacement cost.
- Effective Water Usage
You can easily reduce water usage by taking quicker showers, turning off the running water taps whenever you are not using them, fixing any leaking of taps, and only using the correct required amount of water while cooking.
- Cleaning Filters
It is better to clean the filters or replace them from time to time. It will take more time for your system to work with dirty filters.
- Use Dishwashers at Night-Time
You can avoid using dishwashers and cloth dryers during peak hours of the day. It is better to use these appliances at night time; they will not put a strain on the power grid and you will pay a lower running cost. Similarly, you can air dry your dishes over night and save even more.
- Wall Insulation
If you are living in an old house, this technique will work for you. Insulating the walls can reduce energy bills and consumption & again get double glazed windows, also insulate your loft space and replace an old boiler system & radiators.
- Energy Assessment
You can get an assessment of your energy consumption via a smart meter and keep a record of your energy score. This will help you to save energy in real time
- Dress for the Weather & Stay Warm at Night
When you are at home, dress according to the weather. You should wear warmer clothing in winter and cool clothing in summer, stay comfortable and avoid using heaters or air conditioners 24/7. At Night during the winter use extra blankets or a higher tog duvet.
Conclusion
When you are focused on emitting fewer pollutants into the environment, you will save energy and in the long run save money and at the same time make your home greener.
