The Chester Bluecoat Charity has pulled together some information that might help you save money on your energy bills:
- Heating– try turning this down by one or two degrees and this can save up to 10% on your heating bill, wearing more layers can help with this. Make sure your radiators are bled regularly. Check your house has no gaps to the outside, for example cover up letterboxes to keep the cold air out.
- Lighting – if the average household replaced all of their bulbs with LEDs, it would save about £30 a year on bills. Always turn off lights when they aren’t needed.
- Devices – unplug chargers and put electrical devices into standby mode when they are not being used. Use energy-efficient electric appliances.
- Washing your clothes – Wash your clothes at a colder temperature and wait to do your washing until you have a full load – using a washing machine at 30°C rather than 40°C can save you around a third on your bills. Avoid using tumble dryers.
- Bathroom – showers use far less water than baths so stick to showers and try and make them as quick as possible to save money on both your water and energy bill. When you are brushing your teeth, always turn the tap off.
- Cooking – When using a kettle, only boil the amount of water you need. Always use pan lids in order to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the pan hot. Only keep a fridge door open when necessary.
- Install a smart meter or a smart thermostat – track the energy you are using minute-by-minute and only heat rooms you are using
