As the existential energy crisis continues, people and businesses are being hit harder with more facing financial hardship than ever before.
There are several things homeowners and businesses can do with or without help or supervision, to reduce their energy bills. This blog intends to outline them.
LED Bulbs
One of the easiest ways to save money on your energy bill is to switch your usual incandescent light bulbs to LED bulbs as they use 75% less energy. If it is not financially feasible to replace all of your bulbs at once, we recommend switching to your most used ones.
Seal your Windows/doors
Windows and doors are not airtight therefore a substantial amount of heat is lost through the gaps under/around them. This means that the money you have spent to warm your house is effectively being wasted as it is lost through the gaps. As a result, draught-proofing is the most cost-effective way to save money on your energy bill as it prevents this wastage.
We recommend during the colder months when you are not opening your windows, seal the gaps around them with caulk. Caulk is removable so there is no need to fret about your precision if you aren’t the best at DIY! You could also cover your keyholes and letterboxes or use cushions to block the gaps under the doors.
If you have the financial means to get professional draught-proofing, we highly advise this as although it is a somewhat expensive investment, you will save huge amounts annually, which will more than make up for it.
Seal your loft
A lot of heat is lost through your roof. Adding additional insulation could save you a significant amount in energy bills. Sealing your loft is not as easy as other methods discussed so you may wish to employ external assistance, but it is nothing that a YouTube video couldn’t teach you.
Seal your chimney/ close your unused fireplace
If you have a chimney we recommend sealing it off as it is effectively a large hole to lose your heat (and money) from. You can do this yourself using something called a chimney balloon. It is essentially a large balloon that you can inflate and stick up your chimney which blocks the heat from escaping.
Insulation
installing wall and ceiling insulation is a very effective way to preserve heat however it is a more expensive option. However, the investment would save you money in the long run.
insulating your water tank is also another easy way to save money on your energy bill as heating water accounts for a large majority. The best way to do this would be by fitting an insulating jacket around it or by using thin spray insulating foam.
Insulate your pipes. Pipes carry your hot water throughout a building which means, upon the water’s journey, it is prone to losing some of this heat before reaching the destination. Covering exposed pipes in foam insulation will prevent heat loss and therefore help you to save on your bill.
Smart switches
The simplest way to reduce your energy bills is to turn off the lights when you are not using them or when you leave the room however we all forget from time to time. If you have the means to install smart switches, then it is an extremely effective method to save you money on your energy bills. Smart switches can allow you to turn your lights off when you aren’t even in your home which is perfect for times you forget. You could also install motion-sensored lights that turn off as soon as you leave a room to do this automatically.
Cooler Clothing Washes
Washing your clothes at a high temperature uses a great deal of energy to heat the water. This does not mean you need to use freezing water, however, doing a 30-degree wash, as opposed to a 60-degree wash, for most garments will be just as effective in getting them clean. You may want to save hotter washes for things such as towels, bedding, and stained garments and leave the cooler washing for everything else. Colder washes also increase the longevity of your clothes through less shrinkage which could save you money long term.
You could also wait until your washing has built up to fill the washing machine to decrease the frequency of washes/washing machine usage.
Boiler Timers
Putting your boiler on a timer will save you on energy bills by turning it off during the hours you are sleeping or out of your house.
Air-dry your clothes
Using a tumble drier to dry your clothes uses a significant amount of energy. We recommend avoiding them altogether, if possible, by using letting your clothes dry naturally. Understandably, in summer it is much easier to do as you can put your washing on a line to dry in the heat outside. This is not possible in winter so you could buy a clothing airer to hang your clothes inside instead.
Some people do not like this method due to the unpleasant odor that can form for particularly heavy fabrics like hoodies and towels. To work around this issue, we recommend putting your clothes through an additional spin and drain to remove more of the water before hanging them on the airer. Energy is still used to do this however significantly less than using a tumble dryer. You could also place your airer next to a radiator to speed up the drying process. There are also heated airers on the market now which do use energy but again, significantly less than a tumble dryer.
If you must use the tumble drier, it has been proven that you only need to put your clothes in for 10-15 minutes to kill the allergens, bacteria, and smell, therefore, you could put them in for a short cycle and hang them to finish drying afterward.
Avoid standby mode
Even when appliances are turned off they can still use receive surges of electricity which then passes through your meter and is chargeable. For example, some coffee machines still use 75% of their energy even when turned off. We recommend unplugging devices from the wall when they are not in use. Most electrical appliances can be turned off without disrupting their programming.
A great invention to make your life easier is smart plugs/ a standby saver. These allow you to switch all your appliances off standby at once.
Dust your Fridge coils
Refrigerator coilers vent out the excess heat from the fridge’s compressor to make it run smoother. When they are clogged or dusty then they cannot work optimally due to the compressor working on more heat and pressure. This not only decreases the efficiency, but it can also cause the fridge to break as a result of compressor failure.
The coils are situated on the back of the fridge so if you want to use this method simply pull the fridge out (with help if this is too heavy) and give them a dust/ wipe down.
Winter curtains
As a large amount of heat is lost through windows, if you don’t wish to seal them or fit air-tight replacements, you could alternatively install winter quilted curtains that prevent heat from escaping by stopping air from passing between them.
Fill the gaps and holes
There are usually many gaps and holes throughout houses due to the plumbing and electrics. Plumbers and electricians usually make holes larger than they require which leaves gas for heat to escape. Therefore, sealing these gaps will help you to lower your energy bill. You can seal them easily using spray-expanding foam.
Consistent heating
when your workplace is cold, first and foremost it hinders productivity, but it can also urge people to put the thermostat on full blast, albeit when enough people have complained.
Opposed to having your heating persist in a high-low or hot-cold cycle you should keep your premises at a steady warm temperature. By doing so, even having your thermostat down by one degree, you can save a significant amount of energy and thus costs. Of course, turning your thermostat down overnight or when the premises is going to be empty will save money but during working hours a steady temperature is more cost-effective.
Let the sun come in
On days when the sun is out, take advantage of the free warmth! Even in winter, the sun can shine bright rays so we advise opening the curtains whilst the sun is shining to let the light and warmth in temporarily, so you don’t have to rely on the heater for a couple of hours, every little helps!
Switch to energy star products
Energy star appliances use a significantly less amount of energy than your average traditional appliance whilst delivering the same output. By making the switch you will save a minimum of 30% on your current electricity bill!
Dress appropriately
wear warmer clothes! This may sound like an obvious one but for businesses that enforce a uniform, it would be silly to make employees wear cooler attire to work and therefore need the heating at a higher temperature as opposed to providing a warmer alternative for the colder months.
Manage your heat distribution
Be sure to clear the space surrounding your heat source/ radiator as blocking it with furniture for example will mean you will need more heat to feel the same benefits. This will also minimize fire hazards, keeping you and others safe.
If you are a business owner, we recommend using a smart meter to help you keep track of and understand better their energy usage. In doing so you will be able to adjust things accordingly. For example, you could make it so that only a few people/ managers in your business have access to the temperature to prevent employees from adjusting it. You could also adjust people’s working arrangements so that people who get frequently colder are in a better/well-insulated room or a room at a higher temperature than others.
Flexible working arrangements
Flexible working arrangements, such as employees working part from home and part in the office, can be a smart way to cut costs. Post-covid, more and more job seekers are requesting flexible working arrangements. This could not only benefit your bills but could also help with recruiting future candidates. By employees working half of their hours from home you are saving on heating and electricity, which over the year can add up to a huge saving.
Utilize Air Fryers
Opt for using an air fryer over your oven as they use a significantly less amount of energy. They cook your food faster, therefore you get to eat sooner, AND you aren’t using energy for as long= less energy used and more savings!
Solar energy
We understand that this option will not be feasible for most people however using solar panels will save you a fortune on your bill as you will be using your own electricity. This Is also a green source of energy therefore it is better for the environment, and you can make money on the energy you don’t use by selling it back to the grid.
stop/reduce baths
We recommend swapping baths for short showers as they use significantly less water and energy thus money. Limiting your water usage also reduces carbon emissions and helps to limit your impact on the local environment.
We know some people enjoy a bath so if you do not want to cut them out altogether we recommend limiting yourself to something like 1 bath a week or month.
Reduce dishwasher use
By using a sink bowl with hot soapy water in it to wash your dishes, in addition to a drying rack, you will be saving a lot of money on washing and drying your dishes.
If you must use one, we recommend waiting until you fill your dishwasher full before running it. This will reduce the amount of water you use. Some dishwashers also have an eco-wash setting. If yours has this feature, then we recommend utilizing it as this will use less electricity and reduce costs further.
Don’t overfill the kettle
As a nation we are known for our love of tea; the majority of working adults rely on hot drinks (caffeine) to get them through their working day. Hot drinks are one of the easiest ways to use and waste energy. All of us have occasionally boiled more water in a kettle than we are going to use. This means that there is a lot of extra energy being used to heat the water for it to just go to waste. We recommend only boiling the kettle for how much water you are going to use.
In the workplace, micromanaging staff to use the correct amount of water in the kettle is a silly way to spend your time. It would be hard to solicit, but educating and reminding your staff is a step in the right direction. For example, you could put a small sign next to the kettle, etc.
Compare and Switch Energy providers (businesses)
Switching suppliers does not have to be a complicated process. It can be a matter of weeks and it is one of the easiest ways to cut down your bill. Here at Tribe energy, we stand by honesty as our most important value. We will always work to get you the best deal. If we cannot beat it, we will advise you to stay with your current provider as we ultimately care about our customers, especially in the current crisis, rather than our profits. We are also the only brokerage to disclose how much we make from your contract as we pride ourselves on being transparent.
Tribe Energy is here to help! get in touch today.
