Home Energy Savings

To help reduce the Global Warming threat, we need to look at ways to make efficient home energy savings. Reducing your usage of energy also reduces your utility bills.

Here are some simple energy saving tips to help you create new Home Energy savings by reducing both your energy usage, carbon emissions and therefore your carbon footprint.

Home Energy Savings - Lighting

Switch off your lights when you're not using them. Don't forget outside lights as well! Don’t forget to do this at home, work or school.

If you aren't already using them, switch to low energy lighting throughout your home that uses one fifth the energy of normal light bulbs and can last up to 15 times longer.

There are lots of solar powered lights available for different uses form sheds, garages to outside lights. See our review section for further details.

Home Energy Savings - Appliances

Switch off computers, stereos, TVs, DVDs and set top boxes when they're not in use. Don't leave them on standby. Contrary to general belief, your TV set top box does not need to be left on standby each night.

If you are looking to replace an appliance look for the energy efficiency ratings, these appliances may be more expensive, but they uses less energy and are more efficient, so the additional investment could be worth while.

Wash your clothes at 30°C - you'll save around 40% of the electricity used. If you suffer from allergies washing at a low temperature will not get rid of dust mites, but at 60° 100% are killed.

You can even switch to Eco-balls instead of washing powder, these cost approximately 3p per wash. Where possible always put on a full load of washing, this will save both water and energy.

Tumble dryers are hugely inefficient too. Hang your washing up to dry when possible. If you do use a dryer there are dryer balls available which will help to soften clothes and can reduce drying time up to 25%. They work by retaining the heat and transferring it to the clothes as they tumble.

Only boil the amount of water required, most kettles have a scale on the side, it is worth using it.

Home Energy Savings - Cooking

There are efficient home energy savings to be made while cooking. Some appliances use more energy than others. The most efficient appliance is the microwave as it is normally quicker, cooks the food directly and does not need the oven to warm up first.

When using the hob either electric or gas ensure that the sauce pan you are using covers the full area of the ring, so heat does not escape up the side of the pan. Use lids on saucepans, this will keep the heat in.

Do not open the oven unless you need to as the heat will escape and more energy will need to get it back up to the correct temperature. It may be possible to turn the oven off 10 minutes before the end of cooking, as it takes a long time for a good oven to cool down.

Home Energy Savings - Heating

Check your timer for the hot water and central heating ensuring that they are only on when required. Most people require different times for weekdays and weekends, it is possible to set this with newer timers.

Turn down your thermostat by 1°C - you'll cut your heating bills by around 10%. You are better to add an extra layer of clothes if required.

Adjust the temperature of your hot water - there is no point having water so hot you'll scald yourself, so turn it down to around 60°C.

If you do not use a room turn the radiator off and keep the door closed, this will ensure you are not heating rooms which are not used.

For some rooms it is worth investing in Thermostatic radiator valves. They connect onto individual radiators so you can adjust the temperature for that room.

Close curtains and blinds as soon as it gets dark this will help trap heat in the room.

Is your boiler over 10 years old? If so it could be time to look at replacing it to a more efficient energy saving one. The new condensing boilers can be up to 92% efficient, they work by recovering as much waste heat as possible, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. A new boiler may also have better controls allowing you to adjust the timer and heat more efficiently.

Insulating your home.

Home Energy Savings - Grants

Home energy savings grants may be available for upgrading central heating, installing Cavity wall and loft insulation and installing solar water heating from the government.

home energy saving - how to reduce your utility bills.

One of the ways to reduce utility bills is to either switch suppliers or choose a capped rate energy tariff. There are many websites which will be able to advise how much you could save.

Search our site.

Custom Search