JoshWe’re all aware of the common methods for saving energy in the home – switching all your devices off rather than leaving them on standby and purchasing energy efficient appliances. You might not have considered these smart tips however. Together with Northern Powergrid, who are able to assist with any electric connection around your home, we’ve assembled this list of tips for saving energy that you may not have thought of…
Keep a well-stocked fridge
By keeping your fridge and freezer as full as possible, they will use less energy as they won’t have to work as hard. In addition, it may be a good idea to downsize if you do have empty shelves. If you do decide to make the switch, consider choosing a A++ rated model, as these have been shown to save you around £190 in energy bills throughout their overall lifetime.
Whether you’re sticking with your current model or buying a new one, you should remember to defrost regularly to prevent a buildup of ice – this can lead to increased energy use. Don’t forget to clean around the back of your fridge too – dust buildup around the condenser coils can cause increased heat which can result in more energy being used.
Get cooking – the smart way
You could be using more energy than is necessary when cooking. Remember to only use enough water to keep rice and vegetables covered when using the hob and make sure that you’re using the right size of pan – when you cook a small meal using a large pan, you waste energy as it takes a lot longer to heat the contents.
You can also save time on baking by using up each shelf in the oven. Baking more than one meal at once means that you can make the most of your free space and save some food to heat up later in the microwave.
Have you ever thought of swapping out your oven for a pressure cooker? When you use a pressure cooker to cook chicken, it actually takes around half the time that it would take to cook in an oven.
Invest in a shower timer
If you have a shower at home, it’s recommended that you invest in a shower timer. If you’re able to reduce the amount of time you spend showering each day by just one minute, you could end up saving £7 a year per person.
If your shower uses hot water from a boiler or tank, you could also opt for a more water-efficient shower head. You will still be able to have a powerful shower whilst reducing the overall amount of hot water that you use. By using this handy tip, you could shave a huge £75 a year off your bill!
Forgot to switch off the power? Use your mobile
What if you’re out and about and suddenly remember that you forgot to turn off the TV at the wall? You can now purchase special plug sockets for about £20 which have been designed so that you can switch them off and on using your mobile.
Leaving your devices on standby wastes a lot of energy – by turning your gadgets off at the plug, you could save an average of £30 a year for your household!
Invest in a handy smart thermostat
Did you know that by simply turning your heating down by one degree, you could save up to £80 a year on energy bills?
Investing in a smart thermostat allows you to easily monitor the devices in your home. While these devices do often come with a hefty price tag, with some costing a couple of hundred pounds, they could help you to save around a third on heating bills in the long-term. These intelligent devices are able to learn the amount of time it takes to heat your home and adjust accordingly so that your heating is switched on at exactly the right time to warm up your house to your desired temperature. Smart thermostats can also be controlled using your mobile phone even when you’re out – so you won’t have to come back to a cold house again.
Be smart when washing your clothes
Most of your washing machines energy is used up to heat the water, so you can save money by washing your clothes at lower temperatures. If you’re able to turn the temperature of your wash down from 30 ºC to 40 ºC, you could save up to a third of the cost of running the cycle. Using a hot wash every now and then does help to keep the machine clean however, so don’t forget to do this on occasion.
Additionally, if you use your washing machine one less time per week, you can save around £5 a year on energy bills – which is something to consider if you’re in the habit of filling your washing machine to just the halfway point!
Drying clothes on the radiator also means that your builder will need to work harder than usual, so try to air dry them on the washing line if you can.