Saving energy isn’t as difficult as users might think. There are a number of simple measures that they can perform in their property to reduce energy consumption and cut energy costs. Here are YESSS Electrical’s top 10 energy-saving tips:
Do Some DIY Draught-Proofing - One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to save energy is draught-proofing the property. This measure can help maintain temperatures in the home. This is especially useful during wintertime, as the last thing users need during a cold spell is warm air escaping through gaps in the floors, windows, and doors.
Users can conduct DIY draught-proofing around their home using sealant, self-adhesive foam strips, and draught excluders. By sealing draughts throughout the property, they can boost the level of heat retention and make it easier to keep the rooms at ideal temperatures. This means that the heating system won’t have to work as hard and less energy will be consumed. It is reported that draught-proofing can help users save up to £65 per year.
Another effective measure
Another effective measure for saving energy at home is getting home insulation installed
Get Home Insulation - Another effective measure for saving energy at home is getting home insulation installed. This process involves the placing of insulating material, such as mineral wool or fiberglass, into the walls, floors or roof to act as a barrier between the inside of the home and outside temperatures. Users can also insulate the hot water cylinder (if applicable) with an insulating jacket to keep the water hot for longer periods.
Insulation helps to keep the household cool during summer and warm during winter, again allowing users to maintain the ideal temperatures and placing less pressure on the heating system. The measure helps to reduce the reliance on home heating and this lowers energy usage, leading to great savings of up to £2,500 according to the Energy Saving Trust.
LED decking lights
Invest in Energy-Saving LEDs - LEDs are the most efficient type of lighting available. Light-Emitting Diodes are 90% more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, and 60% more efficient than fluorescent lights. Due to this, users could save £55 on their annual energy bill by replacing their standard light bulbs with energy-saving LEDs.
Light-Emitting Diodes are 90% more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs
The great thing about LEDs is that they are available in a variety of forms – from LED downlights to LED panels and LED decking lights. They’re also extremely long-lasting, with typical lifespans of around 50,000 hours. LED lights can be used both indoors and outdoors, so users can boost the level of energy efficiency in all areas of the home.
Supplying power to appliances
Switch off standby mode - In the average UK household, between 9% and 16% of energy is wasted by supplying power to appliances left in standby mode.
That’s a significant amount of money being spent on wasted energy! According to research, users could save around £55 on their energy bill by ensuring that all of the appliances are turned off at the switch when they’re not in use.
Efficient energy rating
Appliances are rated with energy labels from A-G, with ‘A’ meaning very efficient and ‘G’ meaning inefficient
Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances - When purchasing electrical appliances for the property, users should always aim to choose products that have high energy ratings/labels. Appliances are rated with energy labels from A-G, with ‘A’ meaning very efficient and ‘G’ meaning inefficient.
In order to reduce the energy wasted and save on electricity bills, users should aim to select appliances with an efficient energy rating. From the kettle to the washing machine and television, users should always be sure to consider the energy rating of an appliance before they make a purchase.
Eliminating common mistake
Use Smart Devices - In order to successfully reduce energy bills, they will need to ensure that users are monitoring and taking full control of the energy consumption, ensuring that energy is only used when necessary. Smart devices such as smart thermostats and smart meters provide an innovative and convenient way of doing this.
A smart thermostat helps users to control their home heating with ease
A smart thermostat helps users to control their home heating with ease from their smartphone or android. They can set personalized heating schedules to align with their daily routine, and users can also access the home heating whilst they're on the go, eliminating the common mistake of leaving the heating on whilst users are away.
Breakdown of the energy consumption
Using a smart meter can also help them monitor and lower their energy usage by allowing them to see exactly how energy is being used in the property.
Smart meters provide a breakdown of energy consumption in pounds and pence, enabling them to identify the areas where they can improve and save. In addition, smart meters take automatic energy readings and send them straight to the gas and electricity supplier, this enables accurate billing and prevents them from being overcharged.
Energy saving tip
Additionally, simple steps like turning the thermostat down can help to lower bills
Be More Efficient With The Energy Use - This energy-saving tip is key if users want to significantly reduce the amount they spend on gas and electricity bills. They’ll need to ensure that they only consume the energy that they need to run the home, cutting down on unnecessary energy use.
For example, instead of using lights during daytime, try to make more use of natural lighting to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, simple steps like turning the thermostat down can help to lower bills. It is claimed that turning the thermostat down by just 1° can allow them to save around 10% on the energy bill.
Reducing the energy bills
Increase water efficiency - Interestingly, over half of the average UK home’s energy bill is spent on heating and hot water. Due to this, it’s essential that users ensure that they are using water efficiently within the home in order to reduce their energy bills.
They could also save up to £55 on the gas bill and £45 on their water bill by fitting an efficient showerhead
Luckily, this isn’t a difficult task to do, there are a number of simple measures which can help to cut both energy and water bills. For instance, users could save up to £20 on their energy bill and up to £25 on their water bill (with a water meter) by taking showers instead of running baths. They could also save up to £55 on the gas bill and £45 on their water bill by fitting an efficient showerhead. To reduce energy even further, they should also aim to always fully load the dishwasher and washing machine, as well as ensure that taps are always shut completely – a leaking tap wastes thousands of liters of water per year!
Efficient boiler system
Update heating system - A highly effective energy-saving tip is updating the heating system with a new boiler. Users could also replace radiators where needed. As aforementioned, over 50% of the energy bill goes towards heating the home.
Due to this, it’s essential that users have an efficient boiler system installed, as the boiler is a huge part of the heating system. An inefficient boiler can waste a significant amount of energy, so if the current system is over the age of 10 years old, it could be time to get a new one installed.
Annual energy bill
Getting a new boiler can also enhance the quality of heating and hot water in the home
According to the Energy Saving trust, installing a new energy-efficient boiler could help users save up to £300 on their annual energy bill. Not to mention, getting a new boiler can also enhance the quality of heating and hot water in the home.
Although gas boilers are the most popular type of heating in the UK, there are alternative methods of heating the home available, such as electric radiators. With a gas boiler ban on the way, it may be worth looking into other ways in which users can heat their homes efficiently.
Compare energy suppliers
Switch Energy Supplier - Last but not least, they could save money on gas and electricity bills by switching energy suppliers. There is a growing number of energy suppliers on the market, all offering different rates for gas and electricity. Users can easily compare energy suppliers online to find out which supplier could provide them with the cheapest deal. Additionally, if they have a home EV charger fitted, there are many suppliers on the market which offer tailored EV energy tariffs to help them get the most out of the electricity tariff for their EV and home.
Please note, due to the current state of the energy market, some homeowners may find it hard to find a cheaper deal for their gas and electricity. However, they recommend keeping an eye on the market to see if this improves and switching suppliers when users can.
