Energy Saving Tips

Fit for the future

Our money saving tips are all about helping you get the most out of every penny you spend on energy.

Turn your thermostat down

Reducing your room temperature by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save you around £50 per year.

If you have a timer, set your heating and hot water to come on when you need it rather than all the time.

Also, if you have radiators with valves you can control individually (thermostatic valves) it is worthwhile doing, as this helps you to direct warmth in the places you need it, can save money and be more energy efficient. Put thermal reflectors behind your radiators to reflect heat back into your room.

Top tips on room temperature

Use the St Vincent’s room temperature gauge included in your 'Fit for the Future' pack, to make sure your room isn’t too warm.

So that you can heat your home as efficiently as possible, it is important to make sure that your heating controls are set and used correctly. If you don’t know how to do this, contact your Neighbourhood Officer, who can carry out an assessment on your home and give you some advice. This is the easiest way to keep your room at a comfortable temperature, and will also reduce your fuel bills and CO2 emissions.

Using water wisely

If you have a water cylinder you should turn it to 60°C. This is hot enough to kill any harmful bacteria, and heat your water sufficiently for household use.

If the temperature is any higher it is a waste of energy and there is an increased risk of scalding.

When you are cooking, always use the right size pan for the job, and the right sized hob ring for each pan. Remember to use a lid.

Consider taking a shower instead of a bath.

Top tips on water

Use less hot water with a lower temperature setting for the washing machine, dishwasher and shower.

Don’t overfill the kettle, boil only as much water as you need.

If you boil your kettle with only a cupful of water it will cost you about 1/3 p, but make sure you cover the element - over a full year this will cost you £5.61.

If you boil a full kettle it will cost you 11/2p - over a full year this will cost you £29.08.

Turn off electronic equipment on stand by

Don’t leave appliances or equipment, such as televisions and DVD players on standby, and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. This could save you £40 a year.

You can buy a remote control extension lead which will help you to turn off all of your electronic equipment with the minimum of fuss, before you go to bed, or leave the house.

Remember, it is a fire risk if you leave equipment plugged in on stand by.

Top tips on appliances

If you are buying new, always chose A rated or A+ rated equipment which use less energy and reduces
emissions.

Defrost your freezer regularly, an iced-up freezer costs more to run.

Washing machines use a surprising amount of energy

Switch to low energy or LED bulbs

These are a great and easy way to save energy. They plug straight into any lighting unit and use less energy.

Some are even brighter than standard light bulbs but consume a lot less energy.

Low energy bulbs last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs and using one can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb.

If you have a garden, consider buying some solar lights which use the natural energy of the sun. As the lighting is mainly for decorative purposes, all the more reason to use this renewable source of energy.

Top tips on light bulbs

Turn off any lights you don’t need, but do make sure you have enough lighting on the stairs and hallway.

Avoid switching lights on and off regularly. The bulb will use more energy when first switched on.

Leave your curtains open during the day to make the most of any natural light, but close them as soon as it goes dark, to keep the room warm.

Monitor your energy use

A home energy monitor is an easy way to see how much electricity you’re using and what it costs. People who use home energy monitors often find their energy use drops by 5% in the first year.

Think about your carbon footprint. This is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and particularly climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day to day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and travel. You can measure your own carbon footprint by logging on to www.carbonfootprint.com

Top tips on energy use

Home energy monitoring meters measure energy as you use it. This way you can see quite clearly just how much any of your household appliances and equipment is costing you.

Contact your energy supplier to see if you can get a free monitor for your home, but if not, they cost around £30 and are available from any large DIY store.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average household could save around £250 through energy
efficiency measures, such as closing the curtains once it has gone dark, or closing windows if its cold outside.

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

Choose reusable products instead of disposables and buy products with minimal packaging to reduce waste.

Recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminium cans. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Top tips on:

Reducing landfill - buy a shopping bag
Recycling - donate your old clothes to charity
Reuse - buy refill packs for household cleaners - they use less materials and are cheaper.

Useful Information