Save energy, and money, by heating smarter
The annual Energy Savers Week (15 - 21 January) is the perfect time to think about how you can be smarter about heating your home this winter.
This Energy Saving Trust and Citizen’s Advice week provides advice and videos that can help everyone use less energy, which is also better for the environment.
Advice such as:
- Turn your thermostat down by 1°C to save around £105 a year on bills.
- Move furniture away from radiators/heaters to allow the heat to circulate freely.
- Fit draught-proofing strips to your windows and doors to save around £45 a year.
We’re also including a few tried and tested tips of our own.
Heat the person, not the room.
It’s much more cost effective to heat up your body than it is to heat up the room you’re in – so wear an extra layer, and use blankets to keep warm (our winter blanket giveaway is still running – email us to get yours before the 31st January, while stock lasts).
Turn appliances off at the socket and save up to £50 a year.
Almost all appliances use electricity even when you’re not using them, if they are turned on at the socket. Turn the sockets off when they’re not in use and save those pennies.
Wash clothes at lower temperatures.
Setting your washing machine to a 30°C cycle rather than 40°C could save you £20 a year. Modern washing machines are designed to clean your clothes effectively at lower temperatures.
Choose the right energy saving bulb.
Research by the Energy Saving Trust shows that you could save around £60 a year by changing to more energy-efficient lightbulbs.
Use a sheet of foil behind your radiator.
Placing a sheet of foil between your radiator and your wall will reflect heat back into the room instead of it going out through the wall. You can use tinfoil with a bit of cardboard or buy specialist radiator foil.
Change your shower head.
Apparently, switching to a more water efficient shower head could save you up to £30 a year. It’s definitely worth a shot as a new shower head is also more hygienic, and practising good water hygiene is important for your health and safety.
For more information on how to keep warm and save energy this winter, check out Citizens Advice and Energy Saving Trust’s social media channels. You can also find advice on the UK Government’s Help for Households website.
