Energy saving tips for winter
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Energy use in Britain goes up in the colder months and with energy being a lot more expensive than it used to be, many of us are focussed on what we can do to reduce the amount we use. Every bit of energy saved helps both the climate and bank balances.
Here are our top energy saving tips to cut your bills and stay warm this winter. Many of the big savers are quick and simple for you to do and are often free.
Fine tune your heating
You can save a considerable amount by turning your heating down by just 1°C – and you probably won’t even notice the difference.
Make sure your boiler is serviced regularly, so it’s operating efficiently and reliably. Check your boiler flow temperature too, as default settings are often unnecessarily high. If it is a combi boiler, try 50 degrees for your heating and 55 degrees for your water, or if you have a hot water tank then try setting that to 60 degrees and your boiler flow to slightly above that. Plus make sure that tank is wearing an insulating jacket - the water will heat up quicker and stay hot for much longer. You could also put foam insulating tubes around any exposed hot water pipes you have.
Make sure your heating is off when you’re not at home. Set your heating timer to turn off an hour before you leave in the morning – your home will stay warm until you leave and you’ll save an hour a day of heating.
Similarly, set it to turn off an hour before bedtime – that’s another hour saved every day, seven days a week for 30 weeks of the year, that means you could save 350 hours’ worth of heating energy.
If you don’t already have them, consider installing modern heating controls to help you increase the efficiency of your heating.
Let’s talk about radiators
Turn off radiators in rooms you don’t use. Alternatively, use thermostatic valves to set specific radiators to switch off at lower temperatures than your main thermostat. For example, bedrooms can be set to a much cooler temperature than the living room.
Bleed your radiators to make sure you’re getting the full amount of heat possible. If a radiator is colder at the top than the bottom, there’s air trapped inside which needs bleeding – here’s how to do it.
Fit a shelf above a radiator to direct warm air into the room. Place foil behind radiators on exterior walls to reduce the heat loss to outside.
Keep your internal doors closed so your radiators are heating individual rooms, rather than your entire home.
Insulation, insulation, insulation
Start by insulating yourself – winter is a time for extra layers and there’s nothing like a warm jumper to help you stay cosy.
Insulate your walls – it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy around the home.
Check that your loft is properly insulated. As heat rises, this is a must-have in your insulation toolbox.
Close your curtains just before it gets dark to reduce heat loss through the glass. The heavier and thicker the better, particularly if you don’t have double glazing.
Fit draught-proofing to your windows – even the cheap self-adhesive kind will help block out draughts and help keep you warm. For doors, think about an old-fashioned draught excluder (you could even make one). And don’t forget any bare floorboards and your chimney if you have them.
Laundry & Bathroom
Give the tumble dryer a winter break as much as you can, and air dry clothes. As long as it is not raining, even the windier, cloudier days can be good for drying laundry.
It’s well known that showers are more energy efficient than baths – and if you want to take that further, aim for shorter showers, maybe even setting a timer to alert you after 4 minutes.
In the kitchen
If you cook with gas, small changes can save you money. Boil water in a kettle first and use a lid on pans to retain more heat. The gas can then be turned down to get the same effect.
Don’t open the oven too soon - you’ll let out hot air and waste energy. If you can, take a look through the oven door instead and see if your food looks ready.
A steamer will allow you to cook a tower of veg using just one ring whilst a slow cooker can save energy compared to using a conventional oven and means you come home to the smell of freshly cooked food.
Save money on energy and ingredients by batch cooking – preparing a few meals at the same time and freezing them means you’ll need to use the stove or the oven less, and you’ll save yourself time too!
Using a bowl when washing up instead of keeping the hot tap running could make worthwhile savings too.
Use a microwave to heat up small amounts of food instead of the oven or hob.
Lighting and Electronics
If you don’t have them already, choose LED bulbs the next time you need to replace one. They use 70-80% less energy than a conventional bulb, and since lighting typically represents around a tenth of a domestic electricity bill, these bulbs alone might shave 7-8% off your bill.
Turning off lights when you are not in the room is a no-brainer and will take that saving further.
Make sure you don’t leave appliances like TVs and laptops on in standby mode all the time – this is a constant, invisible ‘energy sponge’ that you don’t really need.
If you do need to buy new appliances at the moment, take a hard look at their energy efficiency ratings. There should be a sticker on display grading them between A (good) to G (bad) based on how much energy they consume during typical use, compared to other appliances of a similar size. Aim for A-graded appliances wherever you can.
All this may sound like hard work, but small changes in habits can quickly become routine, and it can be rewarding to know you are taking tangible steps to save money and live in a greener way. If you have a smart meter you’ll be able to see in real time the differences these steps are making to your consumption.
You can also read the government's energy saving advice here.
What to do if you're struggling
There are lots of ways we can help if you ever have trouble paying your energy bills. The best thing to do is to get in touch with us as early as you can – we’re always really happy to help. We’ll discuss your options, and we’ll do everything we can to make paying your bill as easy as possible for you.
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