SAVING ENERGY IN YOUR HOME
Double glazing and new replacement boilers etc, are great ways to save energy in your home, unfortunately they don’t come cheap, but there are plenty of ways to save energy and reduce your bills just by doing some simple checks around your home and teaching yourself and other family members some good energy saving habits.
Fit energy saving light bulbs wherever you can.
Switch off or unplug phone chargers when not in use.
Switch off TV sets and other electrical equipment rather than leaving them on standby.
Check your heating system timer is programmed correctly, so you are not heating up an empty house.
Try turning down the heating thermostat a degree or two, if you still feel comfortable leave it turned down.
If you have an old wall thermostat (dial type) with a bi-metal strip, change it for an electronic one which are much more accurate.
Make sure the loft is well insulated, keep a lookout during the summer months at your local DIY stores, as they usually have great deals on loft insulation, two packs for one etc, which makes for great savings.
Check doors and windows for draughts (preferably on a windy day as it makes them much easier to detect). If you detect a draught fit some draught excluder around the offending door or window frame.
Ensure your hot water tank is well insulated with a suitable jacket.
Fit radiator reflective foil.
If the water coming out of your hot water tap from the immersion heater is extremely hot, check the immersion heater thermostat on the tank and turn it down, try it set at a lower setting until you find the one you are happy with.
Educate yourself and other family members on getting into the habit of switching things off when not in use, especially room lights when the room is not occupied, not leaving external doors open or windows during cold spells of weather.
If you are boiling water in your electric kettle, don’t fill it up to make one cup, as long as the water level is a couple of inches (50mm) above the top of the heating element it will be sufficient.
Fill dishwashers and washing machines to their recommended level rather than using them twice for the same amount (this one is a regular family pastime in my home, one sweatshirt washed for 80 minutes, drives me nuts).