Improving Home Energy Efficiency on a Budget

Energy bills are always increasing, and the average household is under a lot of financial pressure these days, so it makes sense to try to find ways to cut your expenditure. Investing in double glazing, insulation and a new boiler could save you a lot of money in the long term, but if you don’t have the funds for such an up-front cost today, there are other ways that you can make your home more energy efficient, without spending any money. Here are eight simple things that will help you to cut your energy useage.

1 – Turn Down the Thermostat By One Degree

If you turn your thermostat down by just one degree, you are unlikely to notice a difference in how warm the room feels, but you will be running your heating less during the winter. Get in the habit of wearing long-sleeved tops, and you will be able to turn the heating down even further.

2 – Shut Your Doors and Windows

Get into the habit of closing your doors each time you leave a room. This will keep frequently used rooms at the temperature you want them, rather than letting heat escape, wasting energy heating rooms that are almost never used. Don’t forget to adjust the radiator settings for each room, too, so that you aren’t using energy to heat the spare bedroom every day!

3 – Unplug Appliances Instead of Leaving Them on Standby

While it is true that most modern appliances are quite energy efficient, it still doesn’t make sense to keep something plugged in and on standby if you know you won’t be using it for a long time. Get into the habit of either unplugging appliances that you aren’t using, or turning them off at the wall.  The energy savings will be minimal, but even a few pence here and there will add up. Many energy suppliers now offer smart meters that will show you how much energy each socket or room is using, so you can see for yourself what the savings will be.

4 – Fix Leaking Taps

Leaking taps waste a lot of water over the course of the year, and if you are paying for water on a meter then you will save a lot of money if you fix the leak. If the leaking tap is the hot water tap, and your boiler prepares hot water in advance, then you will save money there too. Every year, UK households waste a total of 989 million gallons of water because of unfixed leaking taps and pipes. A leaking hot water tap, depending on how severe the leak is, could cost up to £900 per year in wasted gas and water. Considering the fix is usually a two minute job, it makes sense to take care of the problem as soon as it is noticed. Leaking pipes should be examined by a qualified plumber as quickly as possible, to determine the cause and prevent damp taking hold.

5 – Keep Your Freezer Well Stocked

Freezers and fridges are more efficient when they are decently well stocked. Take advantage of this and save energy while saving money on your groceries too by buying in bulk and freezing food whenever possible. Of course, this works only if you buy foods that you were planning on eating anyway, and don’t waste the extras or just ‘eat more’ because you bought more. For those who like to meal plan, however, this is a good energy saving strategy.

6 – Only Do Laundry With a Full Load

Try to schedule your laundry day so that you wash full loads each time, instead of running several half-load washing cycles. If you need to use a tumble-drier instead of air drying your clothes, take the clothes out of the drier a little earlier than you normally would and then iron them while they are still very damp. This will save you time, since damp clothing is much easier to get the creases out of, and it will save you energy too. Opt for a cool wash unless the clothing is heavily soiled.

You can employ a similar strategy with your dishwasher. There is usually no need to pre-wash your dishes with hot water. Simply scrape solids off the plate and into the compost bin, and then load the dishwasher and let that do the work.

7 – Use the Right Part of the Oven or Stove When Cooking

Use small rings to heat small pans, and big rings to heat big pans. If you have a twin grill and are only cooking one thing, just turn one side of the grill on. If you have a small oven and a larger oven, use the right size and section for the job. There is no need to heat up the full-sized oven compartment to cook one small piece of pizza.

Get into the habit of selecting the right tool for the job and you will find that your cooking costs decrease significantly.

8 – Take Advantage of Government Funding

If you own your home, you may be able to get solar panels at no cost to yourself, and you may qualify for either long-term loans (attached to your energy bill) or cash back up to £7,600 on home improvements that will offer significant energy savings. Double glazing, new boilers, cavity wall insulation and loft insulation are all eligible for some form of funding. Many energy companies offer financial aid to low income families that are looking to make their homes more energy efficient too.

It’s important to note that most of these schemes are for home owners only, however, many landlords are willing to consider the installation of solar panels. As a tenant you will most likely not be eligible for any payments from the feed in tariffs that energy companies offer, but you will still get the benefit of the reduction in your energy bill, so it is worth talking to your landlord.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways that you can save money on your energy bills.