how to guides

Energy Saving Ideas

The cold winter months and rising energy prices mean that efficient energy usage is now even more important for homeowners. We’ve got some helpful tips to help you conserve energy, reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills.

Smart thermostats

When you feel the cold at home it can be tempting to turn the thermostat up - but this is one of the most common causes of higher energy bills. With a smart thermostat, you can stay warm without overdoing it on the heating, thanks to a system that learns from your usage.

For example, if you always turn the heating on when you get home from work at 6pm, a smart thermostat will learn from this and ensure the home is a suitable temperature at 6pm every day. This reduces heating usage when nobody is home.

You can also control smart thermostats remotely, either via an app or the internet, so if there’s a change to your schedule and you’re going to be home later, you can use your phone or tablet to change the timings to avoid energy wastage.

Make the most of Zonal heating

If your home benefits from zonal heating you’ll have multiple thermostats to control the heating in different areas of your living space. With thermostatic valves on radiators you can control individual room temperatures so you’re only heating rooms you’re using. So you can keep your home office warm during the day and turn the heat down when you’ve switched off for the day.

Radiator care

By keeping your radiator dust-free, you’re helping to maintain its effectiveness by ensuring heat isn’t wasted. You should also avoid laying clothes on radiators to dry them as this prevents the radiator from effectively heating the room.

You should also bleed your radiators to get rid of any air pockets in the system. This will keep your radiators running smoothly and efficiently.

Learn how to bleed your radiators

Saving energy on appliances

Old appliances are some of the biggest culprits of energy wastage. In terms of energy efficiency, boilers, washing machines, ovens and televisions have come on leaps and bounds in recent years. Replacing old appliances with more energy efficient alternatives is better for your wallet and the environment.

While a new appliance will incur a one-off expense initially, it’ll save you money in the long term. You’ll be using energy more efficiently and avoid having to pay for repeated call-outs for repairs and maintenance.

Switch off, not standby

One easy change is to switch your appliances off rather than leaving them on standby. Whilst standby uses much less energy than ‘on’ mode, it still uses energy. And, when you consider that TVs and games consoles can be left on standby for hours on end, that energy spend can soon mount up. If you’re heading on holiday, whether it’s for a long weekend or a two-week summer break, there’s no reason to leave items plugged in and switched on unnecessarily.

Similarly, if you’ve got appliances that are plugged in but aren’t being used, unplug them. If you bought a coffee machine but have cut out your regular cappuccino, turn it off at the wall and you can save £40 a year** by avoiding standby.

Wash at lower temperatures

Use lower temperatures on your washing machine where possible. For heavily stained clothes, a hotter wash will be required but for general freshening of clothes, 30 degrees is recommended. Washing at 30 degrees uses 57% less electricity than higher temperatures, and can save you £10** a year.

Air dry, don’t tumble dry

Once you’ve washed your clothes, drying them on a clothes horse or hanging them outside can save up to £35 a year compared to tumble drying. This might not be feasible in winter, but when summer comes around, you can leave the tumble dryer off and still dry your clothes quickly.

Smart showering

Cutting your average shower time down by just one minute can save up to £10 a year on your energy bills. Swapping one weekly bath for a four-minute shower can further cut your energy costs by £7 a year.

Replacing a standard showerhead with an eco one can reduce your water bills by up to £18 per person per year and cut an extra £17 off your annual energy bill.

Example of a grey bathroom in a Taylor Wimpey home

Manage ventilation

It is important to maintain good air quality in your energy efficient home. In good weather, opening your windows regularly lets the fresh air in. On a hot day, opening your windows helps to keep the room cool without needing to use energy for an electric fan or air conditioning system.

Trickle vents are also important for air quality. Small amounts of air from outside pass through these vents into your home, so you can enjoy fresh air without having to open your windows on colder days.

Understanding your energy bill

It’s important that you understand your energy bills so that you know what you’re paying for. Your bill will show you the energy tariff that you are currently using, which will allow you to compare it with other tariffs to see if you’re getting the best possible rates. Make sure all your details are correct on your bill, and query with your supplier anything you don’t understand.