Energy Saving Tips

Here at Easy Energy Save, we take gas and electricity price comparison very seriously. Because of this, we’ve spent a lot of time researching the various options you have to find you the best cheap gas, electric and dual fuel prices, leaving you with more to spend on the more important things in life!

Saving money on energy bills is as simple as identifying where gas energy and electricity energy is being wasted, and then taking the necessary steps to prevent, or at least reduce, wastage. Avoiding waste costs relatively little (sometimes nothing!) and can lead to surprising savings over the course of a few years

Heating

Reducing the temperature of your thermostat by just 1°C can save around 10% of your electricity or gas energy use, saving you an average of £40 a year. If your home is too hot, switch the heating off or reduce the thermostat before opening a window. If you have central heating, turn down radiators in rooms that are seldom used (but not so much that they could freeze up in winter!). Additionally, furniture positioned in front of radiators acts as a very efficient insulator, preventing heat circulating around the room. Move chairs and sofas away from radiators to get the most from your heating.

Windows

If you’re able to make a long term investment, fitting modern, low-E double glazing (meeting the latest FENSA standards), will reduce heat loss and will pay for itself well within its lifespan, as well as adding value to your home. A less expensive option is to get in the habit of closing your curtains once it starts getting dark outside in order to prevent heat escaping and cold air getting in. Ensure that your curtains don’t hang over the top of your radiators and line your curtains for extra savings.

Lighting

One energy-saving tip that we at Easy Energy Save have always been fond of is to always turn off the lights when leaving a room! Switching to electricity energy saving light bulbs can not only save you money on electricity energy used (around £100 over the lifetime of the bulb), but they also last up to 12 times longer than regular light bulbs. This means that purchasing an electricity energy saving light bulb provides a better return than investing the same money in a high-interest savings account! Note, however, that electricity energy saving light bulbs cannot usually be used with dimmer switches or timers. Where you can’t use energy saving bulbs, at least try and avoid higher wattage bulbs.

Standby

Instead of leaving electrical appliances such as televisions, DVD players, cable and satellite boxes, video game consoles, and hi-fis on standby when not in use, switch them off properly. Electricity energy appliances commonly use 20%-40% of the power that they use when switched on when in standby mode, with some using as much as 70%! Switching off PC screens when not in use is another easy way to save money.

Appliances

When not doing a full load, use the economy programme if available on your dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer to save on electricity energy, although for the most efficient use of these appliances, try to generally only switch them on when you have a full load. With the use of modern detergents, the 40 degree wash will get most items clean, and uses about 70% less electricity energy than running on the hottest setting. When purchasing new appliances the potential savings through reduced electricity energy bills far outweigh the additional cost of purchasing devices with high energy efficiency ratings. If comparing multiple appliances to buy, find out how much electricity energy is used during a standard day-to-day cycle by each machine. If a cheaper model uses even slightly more energy during a cycle than a more energy efficient model, it could well be a false economy. Lastly, avoid using the tumble dryer on warm days when the sun can provide a free alternative.

Refrigeration

Your refrigerator and freezer are two of the hardest working appliances in your home and quickly warm up when the door is opened. By avoiding leaving the doors of your fridge and freezer open longer than necessary, and by keeping them well stocked, you’ll keep heat loss and wasted electricity energy to a minimum. Regularly defrosting your freezer if it’s prone to icing up will keep it running at peak efficiency, and provide further savings

Hot Water

The hot water system in your home provides plenty opportunities for saving a lot of money for little or no cost. The hot water from your boiler or immersion heater needn’t be set to more than 60°C, so check that you don’t have it set too high and you could save money on your gas energy or electrical energy straight away. Set your hot water timer so that you have hot water available when you need it, but you’re not wasting gas energy or electric when you don’t. A heavy duty timer designed for use with immersion heaters should cost less than £20 and will make a significant difference to your electricity or gas energy bills. If you have a boiler more than 15 years old, it may be becoming increasingly inefficient meaning that the cost of upgrading your boiler could soon pay for itself. Ensuring your hot water tank is well insulated as well as the pipe leading from the boiler to the tank costs little and can save as much as £20 a year. Shockingly, a dripping hot water tap can drip enough hot water in a fortnight to fill a hot bath, and constantly costs money as a result. Fix leaky taps and always make sure they’re properly turned off to prevent dripping money down the drain!

Insulation

Loft and wall cavity insulation can save between 25% and 33% of your electricity and gas energy use, which could lead to huge savings if you don’t already have adequate insulation. Government grants are available to help pay for insulation in some cases. Filling gaps under skirting boards and between floorboards with newspaper, papier mache or mastic sealant costs only a few pounds, and can save up to £20 a year. Fixing aluminium foil or special panels from DIY shops behind any radiators fitted to outside walls costs a small amount and can also save substantial amounts of money over the course of the year.

Cooking

When cooking, thinking small saves energy and money! Use the smallest pots and pans that will do the job, cut food into smaller pieces, and always use lids to cover pots to reduce the amount of electricity or gas energy needed. Using a microwave to defrost or heat meals uses far less energy than achieving the same result using the oven. When boiling rice, vegetables, and so on, use the minimum amount of water necessary, boiling it in the kettle prior to adding it to the pot. Only boil as much water as you’re going to use (but make sure it’s filled to its minimum level).

Energy Supply

By regularly reviewing your energy supplier you can make sure you’re always getting the cheapest gas, electricity or dual fuel in your area. Energy suppliers are constantly changing their prices, and provided you’re on the standard rolling monthly contract, there’s no reason you can’t switch as often as you like to ensure you’re paying as little as possible for your energy. Using Easy Energy Save gives you peace of mind that your gas and electricity bill is supplied by the company that best suits your needs, and we’ll check the market for you every 9 months to make sure this is always the case. This takes only a few minutes to do, and could save you hundreds of pounds every year. The cheapest gas, electrical and dual fuel deals are usually available by managing your energy bills online, paying by direct debit, and getting both your gas and electricity from the same supplier, and most suppliers now provide environmentally friendly green energy plans that you can sign up for to do your bit for the environment.