Energy Saving Tips to Reduce Power Consumption
There are so many ways to reduce the cost of your energy consumption which then leads onto reduced bills.
If you have already found the cheapest tariff on the market place but want to reduce the amount of energy whether it be electricity or gas to reduce your own carbon footprint and reduce your costs even further then read our energy savings tips guide to reduce your bills and do a little towards the environment.
Gas is more expensive than electricity
The average household energy bill is geared around 70% gas and 30% electricity so the more you can save on gas then the more your bill will be reduced. So if you have gas central heating and hot water then look at ways to reduce the loss of heat through your home and the efficiency of the system generating the power. Here are some tips:
- Get a qualified fitter to check your boiler. It may be energy efficient but may need a service to make it work better. Look into the recent announcement of the boiler scrappage scheme whereby the government will give you £200 off a new boiler if yours is more than 10 years old. Industry experts estimate that just by renewing your boiler to a new energy efficient one could save over £200 off your bills each year.
- Turn down the thermostat by a few degrees – many homes have theirs set quite high and you should look at both the room thermostat and the one on the boiler.
- Fit radiator thermostats – in some homes not all rooms are used frequently and also heat rises through the home so bedrooms may not need as much heat as rooms downstairs.
- Check your windows and fit double glazing as so much heat is lost through single glazed windows or drafty windows.
- If you can not afford windows then try draft excluders and look at front and back doors as well.
- If you are cooking on gas then ensure you have pan lids on your saucepans so you can turn down the supply – this is the same for electric stoves.
Other helpful hints to reduce electricity costs
Energy efficient light bulbs:It is estimated that by changing light bulbs from the regular old style to new energy efficient ones can save a home up to £78 a year in electricity. The costs used to be very high for these bulbs but with subsidies the costs now can be as little as 10p each. In fact some supermarkets are giving them away or allowing you to purchase them at very little cost. If you see these offers then purchase as many as you can. The new bulbs last for about 10 years so you’ll be saving in energy as well as the cost of replacing them.
Consider economy 7 electricity: The cost of electric power at night is so low that if you can use economy 7 it can save you a lot over a year. This tariff is generally set between 12am and 8am GMT but be wary of the tariff because the cost of electricity during the day can be higher. If you choose this then you can have appliances such as washing machines programmed to come on during the night (if you can stand the noise….)
Those are the basic energy savings tips anyone can use to reduce their energy bills in the UK.