With news that several energy providers going to increase their electricity prices, it's time to have a look at how you can save energy - and money - at home. It doesn't take much to save a little here and there, and in the long run all small energy savings can help you reduce outgoings - and it is greener too!
Take a good look around your house or flat and note down where energy might be wasted on a piece of paper - that's your to-do list. Now you can reduce your energy usage in workable steps, and not get overwhelmed by everything that needs to be taken care of. First do something about obvious energy wasters (no, that doesn't include the cat that does nothing else than sleep on the sofa and eat): leaving the light on; heat escaping through the windows; a flat as hot as a sauna. Then work your way through the to-do list towards a more energy efficient home life.
Top tips for saving energy
1. Is your home hot as a sauna? Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature with only 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. Put any saved money towards your next holiday or a girl's night out.
2. Wear slippers and add another layer of clothing before you turn up the heat.
3. If you can, set your heating on a timer to go on an hour before you have to get up in the morning and off when you actually get up. The flat will then slowly cool down, and you'll be out the door before it cools completely! Do the same in the evening. Heating on for a few hours, and let the flat start to cool down 30 mins before you go to bed.
4. Check all windows and doors for drafts and place draft excluders wherever possible. Make it more fun by making your own unique draft excluders! If you don't have double glazing, invest in thick curtains that you can close at dusk to stop heat escaping.
5. Always leaving your TV / Kinect on standby, or laptop and mobile phone charging unnecessarily? This actually draws more energy than you may think, and will add up over the months. Flip the switch and you could end up saving pretty pennies.
6. Turn off lights when you're not in the room, and use energy saving lightbulbs wherever possible.
7. Love a cup of tea? Only boil enough water to fill the cup or cups of tea you're making.
If you like feeling toasty once in bed, swap the electric blanket for a hot water bottle and wear socks to bed.
8. Set your fridge and freezer to the right temperature. Not too cold and not too warm, just right as Goldilocks would say. Defrost food in the fridge overnight instead of microwaving it.
9. Only wash clothes when you have enough for a full load. Two half-loads uses more energy than one full load. And line dry whenever possible.
10. Towel dry your hair as much as possible. This will cut down the time you need to use your hairdryer for.
Got any helpful energy saving tips for Hippyshopper? Get in touch!
Read on for tips on how to reduce your household waste.
Source: Energy Saving Trust
Image: Home Gas Services
