Dan was really helpful and explained the problem well.
When you pay your hard-earned cash for something, you want to make sure you get your money’s worth. With our energy saving tips, you can become more energy efficient and get more out of the gas and electricity you pay for. They’ll help you lower your home’s carbon footprint and save money on your monthly bills.
What is energy efficiency and why is increasing it important?
With phrases like net zero, carbon neutral and green goals becoming commonplace, you’d be forgiven for being baffled as to what they all mean. Put simply, to begin reversing the effects of climate change, we need to start making everyday changes that – collectively – will make a real difference for the planet.
One way of doing this is by being energy efficient. The more energy you save, the fewer carbon emissions there are to contribute to climate change. There are a lot of ways to conserve energy around the house. And with our homes accounting for 40% of our emissions in the UK, it’s a great place to start. And when you save electricity, you save on your energy bills too. It’s an absolute win all-round!
And we’re here to help turn these big ideas into simple, everyday actions that we can all do. Here are 10 ways to save energy at home…
1. Do full laundry loads
Half-load settings save very little energy, so a full load is much more energy efficient. Do fewer (but fuller) – wash loads instead.
2. Use the eco setting
On your dishwasher or boiler, the eco setting heats water more slowly, using less energy. You get the same results; it just takes a little longer.
3. Don’t use standby mode
Unless switched off at the wall, appliances like your TV continue to use energy, costing the average UK home £35 per year. By using a smart plug you can switch off at the wall with a quick tap of the app – no need to reach behind the telly!
4. Careful with that kettle
When making tea or coffee, most of us fill the kettle right up. By filling your kettle just to the level you need, it could save you up to a third of the energy you have been using or even filling a flask of the water you didnt use to make another cuppa.
5. Switch to LED bulbs
Traditional bulbs are extremely inefficient. Modern LEDs are the opposite, and also last longer so are less wasteful too. Smart LED bulbs can help you save even more energy as you can switch them on and off remotely.
6. Use your microwave more
You’ll save energy because it’s quicker than using the oven or stove. It’s worth considering a slow cooker too, as they’re one of the most energy-efficient kitchen appliances.
7. Unplug all your chargers
Across the country, people are unnecessarily over-charging their mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Instead, as soon as your device is fully charged, try and get into the habit of unplugging it. Not only will this save energy, it also prolongs battery life.
8. Close your curtains at night
In the day it's important to try to use as much natural - and free - heat (in the form of sunlight) as possible. But when dusk falls, closing your curtains will help your home retain that heat. This helps keep warmth in the room – but try not to drape them over radiators.
9. Turn down the temperature
With today’s effective washing machine detergents, there’s often no need to run your washing machine any higher than 30°C – clean clothes, energy saved, job done!
