Get energy efficient, says Confused.com
With the credit crunch in full throttle, people are searching for ways to cut household costs. Gareth Kloet, head of energy for Confused.com, offers tips on how to save money on domestic energy bills.1. Heating the home
Old-fashioned water tanks housed in airing cupboards might be great for heating up bath towels and linens, but they give off a lot of wasted heat, which in turn pushes up energy bills. An insulating tank jacket costs little but pays for itself quickly, as it stops heat being lost. Boilers should also be set on a timer which reflects how often the homeowner needs heat and water. Thermostats should be turned down and draft excluders fitted to any doors and windows letting in cold air.
2. Insulate your walls
Around 33% of a household's heat is lost through the walls, unless the cavities are insulated. Insulating may sound like a big job but is generally inexpensive, hassle free, and can help homeowners to save up to £160 a year on heating bills
3. Appliances left on standby
Many appliances nowadays come with a standby setting, but it is important for homeowners to switch off as many appliances as possible when not in use. In standby mode, some appliances use as much energy as they do when they are switched on. Many manufacturers are now working towards reducing energy waste, but switching off appliances can still save 25%of the energy they use when left on. In fact, some households now spend around 10% of their electricity bill just on standby power.
4. Kettles
Kettles should only be filled with the amount of water needed at the time. If everyone boiled only enough water to make the cup of tea they needed, we could save enough electricity in a year to run nearly half of the street lighting in the country.
5. Computers
A laptop will only use 1.3 watts of energy, compared to the 3.4 watts consumed by a desktop pc. Laptops are designed to run on battery power, so are better equipped to run on less energy, making them much more energy efficient. It is also worth remembering that even when computers have been shut down, they still consume energy from the external power supply (black box on the power cable) so switching off at the mains ensures no additional energy is wasted.
6. Domestic Appliances
Dishwashers, washing machines and fridge freezers all contribute significantly to energy bills, yet by making small changes to the way homeowners use them, they can all become much more energy efficient. The most important thing when choosing a new appliance is to look for the ‘Energy Saving Recommended' logo, indicating which appliances are the most energy efficient. Fridge freezers use £1.5 billion worth of electricity¹, but by making sure the door is closed every time it is used; avoiding putting hot meals straight into a cold fridge; defrosting it regularly, and checking the door seals are working properly, can all help to avoid wasting any energy. Dishwashers and washing machines use up a lot of water, as well as a lot of energy, so making sure the load is full before switching on is vital to saving energy.
"By making changes to the way homeowners currently run their homes can significantly reduce energy consumption, and therefore, energy bills. Additional extras like using energy saving light bulbs, unplugging chargers when finished with them and closing curtains at dusk can all contribute to saving energy. Shopping around to find the cheapest gas and electricity suppliers available can make a big difference to annual energy bills. Confused.com currently works with a wide range of suppliers, offering the best prices with the most benefits."