5 Energy Saving Tips that Benefit the Planet (& Your Wallet)

September 25, 2017

[lead]Yep, we get it. Energy saving sounds dull, but it doesn’t have to be! It’s super important too. Whether you’re a proud home owner or on the hunt for your dream property, you should care about energy saving. Our top tips are super easy to follow, and we can save you some money too.[/lead]

It’s no longer an option to deny that our environment needs looking after. Global warming is having devastating effects around the world and we all need to start doing our bit to make a difference. There are so many simple changes you can make around your home. The following tips take little to no effort at all, but can have a great impact on your home’s energy efficiency – as well as your wallet!

1. Turn it off!

Make sure you switch off lights as you leave a room. Getting into this habit can greatly reduce your energy consumption, as forgetting to do it may add hours of unnecessary usage. Don’t just worry about light switches though, remember to turn off plug sockets when they’re not in use. Keeping appliances on standby is a common mistake, it doesn’t actually save any energy (or money). The Energy Saving Trust worked out that on a £500 bill, around £80 could be attributed to leaving appliances on standby. Turn off at the wall – or not at all! Unless, that is, you’re recording Coronation Street. Then you should probably keep the box on…

2. Get frugal with water

We all do it – washing your odd pots under a running tap to avoid filling the bowl. However, filling a bowl with hot soapy water and washing everything at once could actually save £25 a year on your energy bill. When it comes to showers, cutting down from 20 to 10 minutes each time could have a big impact. UK Power reckon that this time trimming can save 25% on bills. Double check your taps regularly: a dripping tap can waste a litre of water every hour!

3. Insulate & draught-proof your pad

Perhaps this is something you’ve considered doing in your current home, or it’s a factor you’re depending on in your new place. Either way- insulation is important. Investing in insulation and draught-proofing your home can balance out extreme weather, cut out noise pollution and slash your energy bills. Typically, a house without insulation can lose 30-40% of heat through the walls alone. That’s not mentioning the roof, floor and windows!

4. Take control

There are so many gadgets out there now to make controlling your home’s energy use a whole load easier. It’s also worth remembering that most boilers also have options to control the heating in your home, so you don’t necessarily need a new piece of technology to make a difference. However, if you’re into your gadgets, maybe try out a smart thermostat like Nest or Hive to get much more detailed control. Using an app on your smartphone you can literally, minute by minute, control the heating in your home.

5. Eco-wash

This one probably seems obvious, but so many people still forget about the eco-wash option most modern washing machines have. If you don’t have that explicit choice on the dial, try reducing your wash temperature to 30 or 40 degrees. Washing at a lower temperature not only cuts your bills and contributes to a greener planet, but it can prevent some of your clothes from shrinking or running their colour.