Top tips for saving energy

Using energy more efficiently in your daily life comes easily once you get started. This site lists many ways to save energy around the house, at work and on the road. Here, we list the overall top six:

• Many people keep their thermostat too high. Check it and if its above 20ºC turn it down. Lowering your thermostat by just 1ºC will knock 10% off your heating bill.
• Much of the heat loss from a house occurs through the windows, particularly if they are single glazed. So keep your curtains closed at night, even in empty rooms and also ensure that the curtains don’t hang over the radiators as that will just funnel all your heat out the window.
• Close room doors to separate heated from unheated areas of your home, and minimise the area you are heating. There is no need to spend money heating rooms nobody is in.
• Turn the lights off when leaving a room.
• Switch appliances off rather than leaving them on standby. This will save up to 20% of your appliances’ energy use.
• Make better use of the timers on your immersion or boiler so you can control when the heating comes on and goes off. This means you have heating and hot water when and where you want it.

While all of the above are simple tips that won’t cost you anything, some people may want to go a little further and actually spend money to save money.

 If you are interested in spending money on making your home more energy efficient you should consider the following:

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs):These use a fraction of the electricity an ordinary light bulb would use and last up to 10 times longer.
• Appliances: Be demanding when you buy. All appliances now need an energy label so check them for one. Purchase ‘A’ rated appliances whenever possible, the amount they will save you on electricity will be more than the cost of replacing the existing appliances you have. 
• Electric Heaters: When buying heaters, make sure they are the right size for the rooms they are to heat. Remember that electric heaters consume electricity at the most expensive charge rate.
• Insulation:  Insulating your attic and walls could save you 30-40% on your home heating bill. For information on the Home Energy Saving scheme grants that can help visit our grants section.
• Heating System Upgrade: The Home Energy Saving scheme will also grant aid high efficiency boilers and heating control improvements.