Energy Saving Tips
There are lots of ways to use energy more efficiently at home. Most cost nothing,
some cost a little – but together they could save you a lot of money on your energy
bills.
Go easy on heating

Run your heating for just one hour less every day

Keep the air flow vents on your electric heaters clear of obstructions

Turn down your thermostat by one degree and you could save up to £65 a year
Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2008
Close the curtains

Shut out the night and keep in the heat, but make sure you don’t drape your curtains over radiators as this
sends heat straight out of your windows
Wise up about water

Don’t set the thermostat too high – 60°C/140°F is fine for a hot bath or wash

Take a shower – it's faster, cheaper and more efficient than your bath

Put the plug in – running that hot tap costs money and wastes water

Fix that drip – leaks waste a lot more water than you think
Turn off the lights – and the TV

If you’re not in the room for a while – kill the lights

Turn your appliances off instead of leaving them on standby and you could save up to £37 a year
Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2008
Cook with care

Use the right sized pan for the food and the hob

Keep saucepan lids on to keep in the heat

Only use the water you need

Make toast in the toaster, not under the grill

If we all only boiled as much as we needed rather than filling the kettle right up every time,
we could save money and enough electricity in a single year to power the street lights in the UK
for more than six months
Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2008
Don’t forget the fridge

Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to improve their efficiency

Don’t put hot food in the fridge – let it cool down first

Position fridges or freezers as far from cookers and heaters as you can
Wash wisely

Run your washing machine on full loads – and use half load or economy programmes if you have them

Use low energy programmes on dishwashers for all but the very dirtiest dishes