Energy Saving Tips

If your energy bill takes up most of your budget, it is time to learn some useful energy saving tips.

Energy conservation is not just about being environmentally conscious, it is also an easy way to save some cash. It does not have to cost you a cent or take hours of your time to organize. Making small adjustments using our energy saving tips can make a big difference, and most of them are free.

Here are some easy- to- do energy saving tips that you can do today:

Heating and Cooling

• Turning your heating down by 1 degree can save you about £75 yearly.
• On a cold day, wear an extra layer of clothing before turning your boiler up. Putting on an extra pullover or a pair of socks will keep you warmer and you might not need to turn the heating up.
• Keeping your boiler running on low heat potentially uses less energy than turning it on and off for big blows of heat.
• Keep your curtains open during the day and draw them when the sun sets to keep the heat accumulated during the day inside the house.
• In the summer, draw your curtains while the air conditioning is on to keep the outside heat from entering your room.
• Clean air conditioner and boiler filters regularly, and replace them when needed.
• Get boiler service done annually to ensure your heating system is functioning efficiently.
• Check that your HVAC system has programmable thermostats to help you manage the use of each appliance in each room. This can help you save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs.

Lighting

• Turn the lights off when not in use. Make use of natural light when possible.
• Keep your light bulbs clean. Dirty bulbs will give a darker glow, and you might feel it is necessary to switch in more lights.
• Choose light- colored lampshades and keep them clean. Darker (and dirty) ones give a darker glow.
• Consider how much light you really need in each room, and see if you can remove a light bulb or two.
• Use energy saving bulbs, or lower watt bulbs whenever possible.

Kitchen Appliances

• Put a full load in the dishwasher and use the shortest cycle possible.
• If your dishwasher setting allows, turn it off before the drying cycle starts and air dry the dishes instead.
• Regularly defrost your refrigerators and freezers and replace any worn out seals.
• Avoid placing your refrigerator or freezer next to your stove / oven or a window where heat from the sun comes in.
• Avoid opening the oven door while baking, or the refrigerator, when not necessary.
• Let hot food cool down first before placing them in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Only fill your kettle with enough water as needed.
• Use the right size of pan for the right ring in your cooker.

Laundry

• Wash full loads of clothes.
• Washing in cold cycles can save you up to $63 annually. Not to mention that you also avoid shrinking your clothes by using cold water.
• Front loading washers use less water and less energy.
• If the weather is good, air dry your clothes outside.
• Regularly clean the filters in your dryer.
• Immediately hang up or fold the clothes after drying so you won’t have to iron everything.
• Iron your clothes according to the type of fabrics so you wont have to keep changing the iron setting.

Other Appliances

• Turn off your TVs, DVDs and other entertainment units when not in use. They still use several watts of power even on stand by mode.
• Fix leaky faucets and defective plumbing. One leaking faucet can waste 212 of gallons every month. Not only will your water bill go up, you are also wasting energy heating up all that water.
• Take short showers instead of baths. But be careful as a power shower running continuously for 4-5 minutes can cost more than filling a bath. However, if each member of a family of four replaces a bath with a 5- minute shower once a week, they can save up to £15 yearly on their gas bill.
• Don’t leave your mobile phones or anything charging over night. Remove the plug as soon as they are fully charged.

More Energy Saving Tips?

There are more efficient energy saving tips for your entire home.

• Insulate your water heater.
• Insulate hot water pipes that are exposed to the weather. This alone can help you save about £10 every year.
• Use thermal curtains or simply add a thick lining to your existing curtain to keep the heat in.
• Check you windows, doors, keyholes, letterboxes, suspended floorboards and loft hatches for gaps. Fill the gaps using draught proofing found in most DIY stores.
• Insulate your walls, loft and basement. Proper insulation can save up to 20% on your energy bills.
• Install window shades and awnings to keep the heat from your home during the summer.
• If any of your appliances are up for replacement, shop for energy saving models.

These energy saving tips are useful and you can get more help on getting a new boiler or scheduling a boiler repair by calling us today.