May 17, 2019 Reducing Energy Bills

Tips on everyday changes you can make to reduce your home’s energy bills.

May 17, 2019

There are two very compelling reasons for striving to reduce your energy bills: money and the environment. Even very small changes (as you will find out) can have a significant impact on the amount of gas and electricity you use, which results in tremendous savings. As well as the financial benefits, minimising your energy bills is beneficial for the environment too. The vast majority of homes in the UK are heated by gas, and the burning of fossil fuels adversely contributes to climate change. So, to be more financially astute and do your bit for the environment, here are a selection of easy to implement tips that will help you save on your energy bills.

Insulation: Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss in the home, so it is important to check that they are properly sealed – with no glaring vulnerabilities. Double-glazing, while expensive to install, is worth it long-term because of the regular savings you’ll make. If this isn’t affordable enough to be a viable option, the most economical solution is to acquire weather stripping to install between the moving parts of the doors and the exterior windows, as well as the doors between heated and unheated spaces, sealing them tightly.

Lighting: Changing the lighting in your home is one of the easiest ways to cut down on your electricity bills. 7W LEDs consume 90% less electricity than conventional 60W bulbs. Aside from the gulf in electricity usage, the life expectancy of LEDs separates them from traditional bulbs. LED lights last, on average, 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs

Appliances: Replacing old and inefficient appliances with newer, more efficient ones results in long-term savings. You can save around £11 annually by changing televisions, and up to £44 by changing fridges. It is also important to remember that, shockingly, leaving devices on standby can account for up to 10% of your home’s total electricity consumption.

Refrigerator: Household appliances account for 45% of total household electricity consumption. OF this 45%, 18% belongs to the refrigerator’s consumption of electricity, so it is definitely worth being mindful of the amount of times – and length of time – you open the door for. It is also important to remember to defrost regularly to avoid ice sheets. Just 3mm of frost can increase electricity consumption by 30%.

Heating and air conditioning: Experts have debunked the myth that leaving your heating on a low temperature all day is actually cheaper. The most economic way to heat your home is turn on the heating only when absolutely necessary, and, of course, opting for as low a temperature as possible will save you the most money. By more efficiently heating and distributing water throughout your building, circulating pumps from Pump Sales Direct can also help you save water and energy.

Cooking: If you have the option, go for induction hobs over glass-ceramic-hobs – they are 20% more efficient. If you cook something in the oven, each time it is opened, you are wasting energy, so try to avoid opening and closing it as much as possible.

We hope you found these tips useful!

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