We’ve all heard of the most common methods for energy saving – making sure that your devices aren’t left on standby and investing in energy efficient household appliances. There are some tips that are often overlooked, however. We all want to save money, don’t forget that you can always look for online deals from websites such as DontPayFull. on our bills by reducing our energy expenditure – so we’ve teamed up with Northern Powergrid, who are able to assist with any electric connection around your home, to bring you this handy list of clever energy saving tips that you might not have considered.
1. Save in the kitchen
Cooking meals for your family is a necessity, however, it’s also easy to use more energy than needed when using the hob. Remember that you should only use as much water as you need to cover vegetables or rice on the hob and ensure that you are using the correct sized pan. Using a large pan to heat up a small meal wastes energy, as it takes longer to heat up the contents.
Baking enthusiasts should consider cooking more than one meal at a time in the oven. Making use of the free shelf space means that you won’t have to keep using the oven to cook multiple meals – instead, why not save the extra food to heat up later in the microwave?
It could also be wise to swap out your oven for a pressure cooker, depending on what you make. For example, cooking chicken in a pressure cooker only takes around half of the time it would take to make in the oven. On the topic of swapping appliances, it could be a good idea to invest in a more energy efficient fridge. A++ rated models have been shown to help you save an estimated £190 in energy bills over their product lifetime.
It’s also smart to keep a well-stocked fridge – your fridge doesn’t actually have to work as hard when full, as it uses less energy to keep the contents cool. Whether you’re swapping your old fridge for a newer model or sticking with your old reliable, it’s a good idea to regularly defrost, as not doing so can lead to increased energy use. It’s also important to clean around the back of the fridge regularly to prevent dust from building up around the condenser coils, as this can cause your fridge to heat up, using yet more energy.
2. Save in the shower
Shower timers are a brilliant little invention – did you know that by reducing your shower time by just one minute, you could save you up to £7 a year per person in your household?
If you have the type of shower which uses hot water from a tank or boiler, it could be wise to invest in a more energy efficient shower head attachment. Using one of these attachments means that you’ll still be able to enjoy a powerful shower, while reducing your hot water use. This handy tip could help you shave £75 a year off your water bill.
3. Save on the washing
Most of your washing machines energy is used up to heat the water, so you can save money by washing your clothes at lower temperatures. If you’re able to turn the temperature of your wash down from 30 ºC to 40 ºC, you could save up to a third of the cost of running the cycle. Using a hot wash every now and then does help to keep the machine clean however, so don’t forget to do this on occasion.
Additionally, if you use your washing machine one less time per week, you can save around £5 a year on energy bills – which is something to consider if you’re in the habit of filling your washing machine to just the halfway point!
Drying clothes on the radiator also means that your builder will need to work harder than usual, so try to air dry them on the washing line if you can.
4. Save on the go
Did you know that by simply turning your heating down by one degree, you could save up to £80 a year on energy bills?
Investing in a smart thermostat allows you to easily monitor the devices in your home. While these devices do often come with a hefty price tag, with some costing a couple of hundred pounds, they could help you to save around a third on heating bills in the long-term. These intelligent devices are able to learn the amount of time it takes to heat your home and adjust accordingly so that your heating is switched on at exactly the right time to warm up your house to your desired temperature. Smart thermostats can also be controlled using your mobile phone even when you’re out – so you won’t have to come back to a cold house again.
What if you’re out and about and suddenly remember that you forgot to turn off the TV at the wall? You can now purchase special plug sockets for about £20 which have been designed so that you can switch them off and on using your mobile.
Leaving your devices on standby wastes a lot of energy – by turning your gadgets off at the plug, you could save an average of £30 a year for your household!
Sources:
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/energy-saving-tips/
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-energy-efficiency/energy-saving-quick-wins
https://www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/free-energy-saving-tips/
https://britishgas.co.uk/energy/energy-saving/energy-saving-tips.html