We’re in an unprecedented time for home energy bills, with 4 in 5 of UK consumers said to be anxious about their ability to pay for electricity, gas and water.
Below we explain our top home energy saving tips to help you reduce your energy bills in the months to come, even if you’re working from home.
5 top energy saving tips for homeowners and tenants
There are some overarching principles when it comes to saving energy at home. And the good news is, they’re all easy and quick to implement. These are our top 5 simple energy saving tips:
1. Switch off lights and appliances
Switch off lights as you leave a room and when there is enough natural light already available. Survey your house for appliances and turn them off at the plug, rather than leaving on standby.
2. Rearrange your furniture for heat flow
Move seating and other furniture at least a few feet away from radiators and heating sources, wherever possible, to allow heat to flow more freely throughout a room.
3. Only heat the rooms you use
Most houses now have radiators that can be altered individually. Dial them down to the minimum heating setting available in rooms you are not using. Plus, only have the heating on when you’re in the house.
4. Insulate wherever possible
Upgrading home insulation doesn’t have to be expensive. Seal unused windows (if safe to do so) and use draught excluders in keyholes and under doors to block warm air escaping. And don’t forget to insulate your hot water tank and pipes with lagging (a foil-like covering that stops heat escaping).
5. Swap to energy-saving LED lamps
The savings will vary depending on your current bulbs. But research shows you could save up to £15 per bulb, per year, when switching from a 100W incandescent bulb to its LED alternative.
Does a smart meter help save energy?
As well as our 5 simple tips, there are other ways to save energy. Smart meters, for example, are a proven tool for supporting you on your energy-saving mission.
Smart meters show how much energy you’re using in real time, so you’re able to spot high-energy-usage appliances. They help you to identify your energy-consumption habits showing how much you’ve been charged per day and week.
Smart meters also send automatic meter readings to your energy provider, avoiding inaccurate bills. This should mean you will only ever have to pay for your precise usage rather than working with estimates.
How to save energy in the kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most energy-intensive areas of the home. It’s where we cool things down (fridges and freezers) or warm things up (kettle, ovens, toasters). These rapid temperature changes require a lot of energy.
Cooking typically accounts for 13.8% of electricity demand in UK homes, with freezing or cooling food requiring a further 16.8% of electricity used on average. It’s important, therefore, to:
- Choose energy-efficient appliances
- Turn off less frequently used appliances at the plug (coffee machines, microwaves)
- Choose the right size of appliance e.g. a smaller fridge if you live alone
- Only boil as much water as you need, using a kettle rather than the stove
- Always cover pots and pans to better retain heat and speed-up cooking time
- Keep the oven door closed when cooking
- Ensure there’s at least a 10cm gap behind your fridge to let heat flow away
Washing machines, dishwashers and dryers also use a lot of energy. Washing at a cool temperature (30 degrees) and only when you can wash a full load (as opposed to half) can help to reduce your energy consumption. For some households on specific energy tariffs with off-peak discounts, using your washer, dryer and dishwasher between 10pm and 5am may also be cheaper but it is not always the case.
Saving energy when working from home
So, you’re doing everything you can to cut down your energy consumption. But what about your working from home scenario?
All of the above tips are even more important if you are spending most of your time at home. Investing in warmer working clothes, going out for a walk rather than watching TV on your breaks, and choosing the warmest place in the house to work can all make small savings that will accrue over time.
If you work from home because your employer has no office or you’re self-employed, you may be able to claim some relief on your energy bills from the government. However, this does not apply if you choose to work from home.
Energy-efficient building services engineers
If you’re looking to save money on your commercial building as well as at home, get in touch with GLD Technical Consulting today or explore our work.
