Top ten tips for saving energy

THE surging price of energy means that saving money on your gas and electricity bills is now a necessity and not just a green fad - and cutting down on the cost of hot water or reducing your cooking bills is key.

1. Say no to standby

Switch off any household lights and appliances when they’re not needed. You don’t have to sit in the dark but make sure you don’t leave lights glaring in rooms you aren’t in. Rather than just switching to stand-by, turn TVs and other appliances off at the mains to save energy.

2. Mind the gaps

Draught excluding your home can be cheap and cost effective. It can save you up to £55 a year according the Energy Saving Trust. In days gone by this was as simple as using draught-excluders on doors and now means simple draught excluding adaptions to windows and doors. Gaps between floorboards and skirting boards can also allow draughts, seal these off to keep warm and save energy.

3. Retain the heat

Keep your windows and doors closed and draw your curtains or blinds in the evening to reduce heat loss through windows. Lining your curtains will also help to keep valuable heat in. Keeping internal doors closed means smaller spaces to heat which inevitably costs less. Double glazing is also a good idea and will pay for itself over time, potentially saving you up to £165 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust, by preventing heat loss (as well as noise) from windows.

4. Keep the cold out

Cavity wall and roof insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy bills. Walls are responsible for around a third of the heat lost in homes while un-insulated lofts account for about a quarter of heat loss. Government schemes such as CERT (carbon emissions reduction target) mean it is now possible to install at a vastly reduced costs. If you are over 70 or on disability or income-related benefits you could even get it free of charge. Energy Saving Trust figures show that putting in cavity wall insulation could save up to £135 a year and that installing 270mm roof insulation could cut your energy bills by £175 a year.

5. Water work

Wrap insulation around pipes and hot water tanks. The latter could save you around £40 a year and keep your hot water hot for longer, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Spraying insulation foam around areas where pipes enter your home will also save heat, but make sure you use a mask when you do it.

6. Buying green

Use energy efficient appliances from light bulbs to fridges and freezers. Almost four in ten households have upgraded old appliances with more energy efficient ones, according to research by Populus. Modern appliances are much more energy efficient due to consumer demand as well as compliance with regulations. Old-school light bulbs are being phased out with the range and design of energy efficient ones expanding rapidly.

7. Watch your usage

Monitor your energy consumption to understand it; unless you understand it how can you change it? Six in ten Scots admit to being in the dark about their energy consumption and almost half do not monitor energy consumption whatsoever, the Populus survey found. Being aware of how much energy is being used and which day-to-day activities use the most will inevitably put you in control. Monitoring can range from simply checking bills to installing energy usage monitors which are now increasingly available.

8. Take control

Simple things such as turning down the heating before opening a window and not leaving it on all day while you are not there will stop you wasting heat you are paying for. According to Energy Saving Trust, turning down your central heating thermostat just 10C could cut 10 per cent from your fuel bills.

9. Don’t lighten the load

Don’t run your dishwasher or washing machine unless it’s full. Using a half-load or economy setting if your machine has them will save energy and be cheaper to run. Switching to cold washing at 30C or below will have a similar effect. Did you know that 85-90 per cent of energy used to run a wash is used to heat the water? Drying clothes outside if possible rather than in the tumble dryer will also save energy, but don’t dry clothes on the radiator – it uses more energy by making your boiler work harder.

10. Save energy in the kitchen

Only boil the amount of water you need and use an energy saving kettle. Put lids on your pans and keep oven doors closed to reduce cooking time. Don’t wait for your oven to heat, most modern ovens need little or no pre-heating time and grill if possible; it’s quicker and usually healthier too.