Keep out of the red by going for greener options

Cut down on energy and buy wisely - it will cost you, and the planet, less says Joanne O'Connell

LIGHT WORK Energy saving bulbs are an easy fix LIGHT WORK: Energy-saving bulbs are an easy fix

THERE is a quick way to slash the cost of your gas and electricity bills and that is to use less energy in the first place.

Around £6.7billion worth of energy is wasted in the UK every year – that means each person wastes about £112 worth, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

“By consuming less energy in your home, an average household could save around £270 a year in fuel bills and over 1.5 tonnes of CO2,” says Tamara Mauro Trujillo, of the EST. “By taking a few basic steps we can all help make a difference and it can save you money too.”

The good news is that you don’t always have to spend money to save money on energy. There are some simple solutions that you can implement straight away.

Short-term solutions

When you need to replace items in your home, it pays to buy the most energy-efficient type around.

The average washing machine is used for 214 cycles a year and a tumble dryer 148 times, says the EST. But an energy-efficient washing machine uses around a third less energy, for example.

Look out for the energy-saving recommended logo when you are buying new electrical appliances. Replacing an old, energy-inefficient fridge-freezer with a new energy-saving recommended one could save you up to £34 every year, says the EST.

When you next need to replace a light bulb, do so with an energy-saving one. Contrary to popular belief, energy-saving light bulbs aren’t that expensive, points out Marshall. Each light bulb that you switch will save you £9 a year on your energy bills.

Getting an insulating jacket for your hot water tank also only costs a few pounds but will pay for itself within months — you could save around £30 a year.

Long-term changes

A fifth of all heat is lost through the windows of a home. If you have single-paned windows, then investing in double-glazing, means you could cut the heat loss by half — which could slash your heating bill by up to £110, calculates the EST.

If your loft is uninsulated, you could be spending about 15 per cent of your heating bill on energy that is simply escaping straight through the roof.

Insulate your loft to a depth of 270mm and you could save about £155 a year on heating bills.

Fitting cavity wall insulation could cut as much as £120 off your annual heating bill. For houses built before the 1920s, the EST recommends considering internal and external wall insulation. It could save as much as £380 a year.

And don’t forget your boiler. If the boiler in your house is more than 15 years old, replace it. High-efficiency condensing boilers could save you about a third on your heating bills.

QUICK FIXES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN DAILY ROUTINE

First, make sure you switch off appliances when you’re not using them. Most of us occasionally forget to turn the television or radio off when we leave a room, or walk out and leave the light on but it all costs money.

Jane Marshall of website Energrysavingsecrets.co.uk says: “Make these commonsense tasks part of your daily routine and make everyone in the household responsible for switching off whatever they turn on.”

The same applies for turning appliances and electrical goods such as televisions and computers off at the mains.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) reckons everyone’s energy bill would drop £32 a year if they stopped leaving appliances on standby.

Using appliances more efficiently also helps. It may be obvious, but overfilling the kettle when making a cup of tea will waste electricity and take longer to boil. Get into the routine of only boiling as much as you need, advises Marshall.

The same goes for the washing machine — only use it when you need it. Wait for a full load of laundry before you put it on, or use the half-load programme if you don’t have much to wash.

Using a 40 degree wash cycle rather than a 60 degree means you use a third less electricity, claims the EST. Switch to a

30 degree wash and your bill will be cheaper still. And make the most of sunny days and hang your washing out to dry in the open air.

Fridge-freezers are the most hardworking appliances in our kitchens. The EST reckons that UK households use £1.8billion worth of electricity on refrigeration and freezing alone every year.

To cut the running costs, don’t leave the door open longer than necessary, avoid putting hot food into the fridge, defrost the freezer regularly and check the door seals are working properly.

Something as simple as opening and closing curtains can also save cash. Shut them at night to keep the heat in and open them in the day, to use the natural light. 

While it’s not sensible to go cold, if your thermostat could be turned down by 1 degree without it having an adverse affect on you, you can expect your heating bills to drop by around 10 per cent.

* For more details, call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 or see Energysavingtrust.org.uk. It also has details of grants available to help you to insulate your home.

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