10 tips to save money on electricity
According to a recent survey published on uSwitch.com, the average price of residential utilities in the United Kingdom is about £1,252 per year. This average has increased in recent years which has caused many of us to take a closer look at our energy consumption to identify new ways to save money. Here are 10 steps that you can take to save money on electricity in your home.
1. Wash Full Loads of Laundry
Washing your laundry may be a necessity, but you may not think about how much washing and drying your clothes actually costs you. With each load that you wash, you are paying for your washing machine and dryer to run full cycles. In addition, if you are heating your water for the washing machine, this may be adding on to your electricity bill. You can decrease energy consumption by only running full loads and by washing clothes in cold water when possible.
2. Fill Your Dishwasher Full
Likewise you should strive to only run your dishwasher when it is full. If you only need to wash a few dishes, consider taking a few minutes to wash them by hand. When you do run your dishwasher, pay attention to the settings. You can save money by washing your dishes on the lightest setting possible and by allowing your dishes to air dry or to hand dry them when the washing cycle is complete.
3. Invest In an Electronic Water Descaler
You may not realise it but hard water can affect your home’s energy bill. Hard water can result in the build-up of minerals in your homes piping and other appliances resulting in limescale build-up. A water softener can combat this problem but cost as much as £150 per year to operate and are costly to buy. An electronic water descaler like Scalewatcher will also combat this the problem of limescale but cost a lot less to buy and running costs of just £5 pounds per year.
4. Upgrade Your Appliances
If your home has older appliances, you may save money by upgrading to more energy efficient appliances. Compare current energy usage of your fridge, dishwasher, washer, dryer and other related appliances with the energy rating of new models. Making upgrades can indeed save you money month after month.
5. Use a Power Strip
Many appliances will continue to use a small amount of electricity even when they are turned off. As long as they are plugged into the wall, items like your microwave, TV, lamps, computers and more will pull a small amount of electricity. While this amount may be small for each appliance, the combined amount of energy that is used over the course of a year can be expensive. Using power strips and turning the power strips off when the appliances and electronics are not in use can provide you with energy savings.
6. Choose a Different Energy Provider
Different energy providers charge different rates. Take time to explore the rates available to you, and you may save money by switching to a more affordable provider.
7. Take Shorter Showers
When you take a shower, you use energy to heat the water as well as to run the lights in the bathroom. Taking shorter showers on a daily basis can save by through reduced hot water consumption and through the reduced need to have the lights on.
8. Adjust Your Thermostat
You may use electricity for your home’s heating and cooling needs. Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees can help you to save money on this expense without decreasing your comfort level inside the home.
9. Turn Off the Lights
You can also turn off the lights in your home to save money. Consider turning off exterior lights and gathering your family together in one room in the evening. Turn off all but one or two necessary lights, and see the savings on your next energy bill.
10. Use Solar Energy
If funds permit, you can consider investing in solar energy panels for your home. Even the addition of a single solar panel can result in considerable savings on your electricity bill.
Put some or all of these ideas to use now, and you will enjoy regular savings in your home’s electricity bill.
