Energy Saving Tips around the home
This new section is designed to provide a comprehensive list of energy saving tips around the house and home. This list contains many ideas that the public have submitted. Please Click Here if you wish to submit your own tip(s). The list below is intended to show you easy and effective ways to reduce your household bills, and help the environment, it does not include major alterations to your home, such as installing double glazing, or insulating your loft. Instead it concentrates on the little things that you can do everyday which will help to improve your energy efficiency.
1. Use energy saving light bulbs, these may cost more, but they use far less electricity than normal bulbs, saving you money in the long run. Click Here for cheap energy efficient bulbs.
2. Use the kettle to boil water for cooking, instead of heating a pan on the stove. Not only will this be more efficient, but it generally takes less time too!
3. Place heat reflectors behind radiators which are attached to outside walls, this reduces the amount of heat lost to the outside, especially on older houses without so much insulation. It is possible to buy special Radiator Foil for this, but tin foil (with the shiny side facing the radiator) will do nearly as well.
4. Seal up any drafts in doors and windows using draft excluders etc. For small drafts use stick on draft excluding tape, available from most DIY stores.
5. Draw the curtains at night to keep the heat in (especially if you dont have double glazing).
5. After having a bath in winter, dont pull the plug on the hot water until it has cooled down (and thus heated your house) it may look dirty, but you've just used a lot of energy to heat up that water. There's no point letting it, and your money, go down the drain.
6. Using a shower instead of a bath uses far less energy.
7. Do not use your dishwasher / tumble dryer /washing machine uneccasarily. They are some of the most energy intensive devices in your home! Make sure you load them up correctly, and do put them on when they are practically empty.
8. Again for dishwashers / tumble dryers / washing machines, try to put them on after 9pm when electricity generally becomes a lot cheaper.
9. Switch all electrical appliances off at the plug instead of using the 'standby' function. During standby the appliances are still using electricity, and astonishingly, this accounts for 6% of all electricity usage in the home!
10. If you are not using your fireplace, block up the chimney (just use newspaper or cardboard). A lot of heat energy is lost up the chimney flume.
To help the environment even more read our 'Fuel Efficiency Tips' to cut the amount of car pollution you cause.
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Date Added: Wednesday 12th August 2009
""8. Again for dishwashers / tumble dryers / washing machines, try to put them on after 9pm when electricity generally becomes a lot cheaper." This is idiotic! Unless you have an Economy7 meter (which switches over around midnight to measure your electricity usage at the cheaper rate) how would your supplier know when you use your energy? They don't tag each unit with a time-stamp!"
jw
Date Added: Monday 18th May 2009
"Blocking of chimneys should be very carefully considered as it may a} inhibit ventilation c) encourage bird nest building"
Peter
Date Added: Thursday 8th May 2008
"If you cook lots of stews and curries, consider using a slowcooker/crockpot instead of the oven - it's far cheaper even when cooking on a gentle heat all day, and tastes better with much more tender meat. "
Julie James
Date Added: Wednesday 16th April 2008
"saying to put things on after 7pm is all well and good if you live in a place which has Economy7 meters-not all places do! We rent our house and don't have that option"
Lucy
Date Added: Monday 24th March 2008
"Item 7. Surely that should read: Make sure you load them up correctly, and do NOT put them on when they are practically empty. "
Jen
Date Added: Wednesday 10th October 2007
"Get up an hour early to do ironing before 7.00am. Heating appliances use the most power - so using the washing machine at this time can also reduce the cost of electricity used, especially if a hotter wash is needed. "
Louise
Date Added: Wednesday 10th October 2007
"When using an electric cooker, cook meat for stews or curries before 7.00am (when electricity is half price), and then keep it in the fridge until ready to be used."
Louise