Britons are amongst the most energy wasteful people in Europe according to a recent survey by the EST.
In total, the energy we waste as a nation each year is now growing close to the equivalent of powering an additional 7 million non-existent homes!
Below are some simple tips to help reduce energy wastage and save money.
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%, saving you around £60 a year.
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors
- Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave mobile phones and laptops on charge unnecessarily
- Only boil as much water as you need
- Fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher. One full load use less energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off.
- Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb. this saving could be around £70 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
- Put silver foil behind radiators. This will reflect the heat back into the room, preventing it from being absorbed into the wall.
- Keep your fridge and freezer full. The emptier it is the harder it has to work to keep everything inside cold.
- Have showers instead of baths. Filling your bath uses an average of 80 litres of water which is a huge waste of both water and energy.
