Here are some positive changes you can make, to help lower your energy bills and save you money
The first step to saving money on energy is to understand what you’re spending – and how much electricity you’re using. You can check your bills and compare your usage to the expected usage for similar households.
Once you’ve worked out how much energy you’re using and how much it’s costing you, there are plenty of quick wins that might help you reduce it. For example, you could use:
1. Timers for electrical devices (to regularly turn these devices on and off so they are available when they are needed, but not consuming power when they won't be used)
2. Dimmer switches for lighting
3. Low-energy light bulbs
4. Smart thermostats
Sometimes, you might be able to make savings just by making better choices in the home, for example:
Having a quick shower, instead of a bath, is an easy way to reduce the amount of water you use – and the energy needed to heat the water.
You can also save more than 5 gallons (19 litres) of water per day, by turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving.
Avoid putting your washing machine onto a higher setting. Most detergents work perfectly well at lower temperatures like 30 degrees. You could save money by using an eco-wash setting and also waiting until you have a full load of washing.
Take advantage of the sunshine and hang your clothes to dry, rather than using a tumble dryer, to save on electricity.
If you have a desktop computer, try to avoid using it if you can use a laptop instead. Laptops typically use a lot less power, so this could make a big energy saving if you're working from home. A laptop can also give you the freedom to move to cooler areas of your home.
As well as changing your habits, you can also make positive changes to your home to make your property more energy efficient.
