WITH winter fast approaching, the Energy Saving Trust is offering some tips on how to make sure you don’t waste energy and that your bills don’t go through the roof:
Turn your thermostat down. Reducing room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%and typically saves about £60 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half-loads.
Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).
A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
Use energy-saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you about £55 over the lifetime of the bulb.
Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and the Energy Saving Trust will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £280 a year on your household energy bills.
For more information, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
