Householdsare preparing for a new energy price cap widely expected to put many in serious financial trouble.
While price cap projections can be daunting, households can take many steps to ensure they only use the energy they need.
While the individual savings may seem relatively small, it's good to remember that they can add up to significant savings over the course of a year.
– FIRST STEP: TURN OFF AND UNPLUG
The device must be powered off. Standby Mode – And get into the habit of doing this regularly.
Unplug everything you don't need and turn your device out of standby mode to save cash (Andrew Matthews/PA)
(PA Archive)
The Energy Saving Trust calculates that you can save about £55 a year just by remembering to turn off standby mode on your appliances.
Almost any appliance can be plugged off without confusing programming. Consider getting a standby saver or smart plug that can take all your appliances from standby to off at once.
Check the instructions for unfamiliar appliances. Some satellite and digital TV recorders may require you to keep them plugged in so they can track the shows you want to record.
– Check your boiler
Heating According to a recent report by the Hot Water Council, 6% to 8% in homes We have found that you can save money on your gas bill by simply lowering the temperature of the heating flow in your condensing combi boiler.
Doing this will make your boiler run more efficiently and save you about £200 on your average electricity bill.
Set the boiler flow temperature using the control on the front of the boiler rather than the room thermostat. This is the temperature at which the boiler heats the water before sending it to the radiator. The methods of adjusting the flow temperature and the available display information vary greatly. There is a useful online guide at theheatinghub.co.uk.
Another easy way to save money is to turn off the boiler's preheat mode. This means that hot water taps take longer to heat up, but can save you hundreds of pounds a year.
– Forget the tumble dryer, use other appliances wisely
Laundry on clothesline in small living room Hang clothes to dry
Tumble dryers are energy intensive, so hang your clothes outside to dry in warmer months and invest in a drying rack in the cooler months. .
Use the washing machine on a 30°C cycle, and he will use it less once a week. Only use the dishwasher when it is full and use the eco setting if possible.
Do not overfill the kettle. Boil as much as needed.
– Defrost the Refrigerator and Freezer
Remember to defrost the refrigerator and freezer regularly. Cooling consumes more energy.
A full freezer is more economical. A full freezer requires less power because it doesn't need as much cold air to circulate. If you have a lot of empty space, fill the bottle halfway with water to fill the gaps.
BBC Good Food suggests putting everyday items in the freezer that you always use, such as sliced bread, milk and frozen peas.
Various Frozen Foods in Freezer (Alamy/PA)
– Off
Use Please turn off the lights when not in use or when you leave the room.
Replacing all the lights in your home with LED bulbs can save even more.
– Keep windows closed when it gets hot
What you should do when the house gets warm is to open all the windows. But this will only fill the house with hot air.
Using blinds and curtains to block direct sunlight during the day and opening windows when the temperature drops at night saves energy by reducing the need for power-hungry fans. .
– Use fans sparingly and judiciously
Fans can spike your bill even when used in the cooling setting. You shouldn't stop using it if you need to, but there are ways to maximize effectiveness and reduce switch-on time.
Placing fans at floor level helps circulate cool air below rather than the warm air that naturally rises in the room. You can also combine the use of smart fans with closed windows to create the ideal combination for energy savings by running the fan during the day and leaving the window open at night. .
Old antique fan on wooden floor with retro background (Alamy/PA)
– insulation A new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, which invests in
, finds that homes rated in Band F on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system, which measures home efficiency, have lower gas bills than homes. It is set 968 pounds higher than the
The average UK home is rated in Band D and these families will pay £420 more for gas this winter compared to Band C.
The Energy Saving Trust also says that those looking to future-proof their home can reduce their semi-detached bill by £405 by investing in specialized windproofing and insulation for the winter. He said it could be reduced. A DIY windshield is much cheaper and better than nothing.
Installing solar panels on a similar property could save an additional £450 a year.
In an uninsulated house, a quarter of the heat is lost through the roof. Most homes have at least loft insulation, but it's often not enough. Adding 120mm to at least 270mm of insulation helps.
– There are some myths here...
Turning off the boiler is not recommended. It's also not an effective way to save energy. Instead, thermostats and timers should be used effectively to coordinate their behavior.
Refrigerators and freezers are designed to be left on all the time and use more energy to cool down again when they are turned back on, so powering them off for a short time Turning off does not save energy. There is also an important safety issue that can occur if food is partially thawed before it is ready to eat.
