TOP 5 ENERGY SAVING TECHNIQUES – With gas and electricity prices constantly rising and the credit crunch hitting us all hard, you may be considering how best to cut your energy bills. These simple but effective energy-saving techniques could help to reduce your fuel bills.
Effectively Monitor Your Energy Usage
Reading your electricity and gas meters once a month will allow you to see how much fuel you are using over a period of time. If you receive an estimated bill from your energy supplier you can then check the estimated readings against your actual readings. It will often be the case that the estimated bill will be higher than the amount you have actually used.
Once you know your monthly usage, you can also check whether you are on the best deal for the amount of energy you are using.
You can also purchase smart meters that will tell you how much energy you are using at any specific time.
Use Your Boiler’s Programme Button
By setting the programme button on your hot water and heating thermostat you can control the amount and temperature of your hot water. If you set the system so that it is only providing hot water and central heating whilst you are home (rather than all day long), you will save on the energy that would otherwise supply hot water and heat to an empty building.
Turning your central heating thermostat down by just 1 degree will save you up to 10% on your energy bill!
Close Your Curtains!
A little known energy-saving tip is to close all your curtains when the sun goes down. Tucking in the curtains behind the radiators will make sure the heat from the radiators is heating your room. Fitting all your radiators with reflector panels will also help reduce heat loss as the heat is reflected into your room.
Turn Off Appliances
It seems simple to most people but actually turning off electrical appliances when you are not using them will save you energy. Leaving appliances on standby will use nearly as much energy as leaving them on, so turn them off at the wall for maximum savings.
When you are charging your phone, iPod or laptop make sure that once they are charged then turn them off.
Full Load
When you are using your dishwasher, tumble dryer or washing machine make sure that you always fill them up – using any of these appliances whilst they are not full wastes energy.
