Household Energy Saving Ideas

In today's modern economic climate, now has never been a better time to start saving money, and where better to start than at home? Millions of pounds are poured down the drain by millions of households every year. By committing yourself to making a few small changes you could save yourself hundreds every year.

o Use energy saving light bulbs. Energy saving light bulbs may stand on the shelves slightly more expensive than normal bulbs, but can last up to ten times longer and use less electricity. Also, whenever you are not using a room, switch the lights off. This may seem pretty obvious, but only lighting the room you're in can significantly lower your energy bills.

o Don't be fooled by standby. When you leave electrical appliances on standby, they are still consuming electricity at an extremely high rate, considering the appliance is switched off. If you unplug all of your electrical appliances when they're not in use, you could save up to £40 per year on your electricity bill.

o Do a cool wash. Around 80% of the energy used to wash a pile of clothes is used to heat up the water. If you wash your clothes at a lower temperature, this means you are using less electricity.

o Turn down your heating. We all like our homes nice and toasty in the winter, but by turning your heating down by just one degree can cut your heating bill by 10%- and you won't even feel the difference.

o Insulate your hot water tank. A cover for your tank will not cost much, and could significantly contain more heat than a tank that is not covered. By covering the tank with a jacket that is more than 3 inches thick, you could save up to £30 per year.

Compare energy providers to make sure you aren't paying too much for your energy bills. Compare gas and compare electricity and you could potentially save up to £300 by switching to a cheaper supplier.

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