Big Energy Saving Week

Today is the start of Big Energy Saving Week, which is a national campaign to raise awareness on how to save money on energy costs by switching supplier or tariffs, accessing discounts or grants, and making homes more energy-efficient.

We all have the power to save energy, money and the environment through everyday actions. The campaign raises public awareness of how simple changes such as switching energy supplier or tariff, accessing discounts or grants, and making homes more energy-efficient can make a big difference.

Worried about the cost of your energy bills?

If you are worried about the costs of your energy bills then why not try Citizens Advice Energy Comparison Tool, which will allow you to compare prices from different energy suppliers.

If you’re struggling with draughts or high heating bills, CAfS may be able to help through their range of Cold to Cosy Homes services. The scheme is free depending on your household income, benefits and a range of health conditions. You can find out more here.

Energy Saving Tips

Dont leave electricals on standby- Turn off your electrical devices when they are not in use. Youd be surprised by how much power they are still using on standby.

Only boil what you need- Your kettle uses quite a bit of energy. Only fill your kettle with water to the minimum level you need.

Do less laundry- Your washing machine uses power to run and heat up the water. By saving up your laundry and doing less washing you will help to trim your bill.

Use less hot water- Heating your water uses a lot of energy and costs you money.  Here are a few ways to use less hot water: wash up in a bowl, take shorter showers and have showers instead of baths.

Dont use radiators to dry clothes- Drying your clothes on a washing line outside is a great alternative, as it allows the water to vaporise directly into the outside air, rather than getting trapped in your home.

Use your controls- Using your central heating controls effectively will make it a lot easier for you to control the temperature in each room. These can include programmers, room thermostats and thermostatic radiator.

Turn down by 1 degree- You probably wont notice the difference if you turn down your thermostats but your heating bill will. This tip will slice the most of your bills.

Switch to LEDs- Old style bulbs (e.g. incandescent, halogen, curly low-energy bulbs) will cost you more as they use more power. Switching to LEDs will help you to save on your electricity bill.

Water-Saving Tips

Spend a minute less in the shower- If each member of a family of four spent one minute less in the shower they could save approximately 36 litres of water a day.

Use a washing up bowl- You can reduce wasted water by up to 50 per cent when using a washing up bowl as it uses less water to fill than your sink.

Turn off the tap- You can save up to 6 litres of water per minute if you turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

Use a watering can instead of a hosepipe– Hosepipes left running can use between 500 and 1000 litres is water an hour. Using a watering can will limit the amount of water used.

Use a water jug– Fill a jug with water and put it in the fridge for when you want a cool drink. This will save you running the tap until the water is cold enough.

 

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