Saving energy should be near the top of your list for priorities this year, as fuel bills have reached an all-time high. Because of these rising energy costs many homes have been pushed into fuel poverty, which is when 10% of income is used to for gas and electricity.
Increasing your home’s efficiency is imperative to reducing your energy bills and proper heating systems and insulation will cut your carbon emissions too.
Invest in energy efficient products
It sounds like an obvious thing to do, but there are millions of homes in the UK without adequate insulation, or inefficient heating. Wall cavity insulation and loft lagging are two effective ways to retain heat and prevent it escaping through the walls and roof.
Meanwhile, double glazing deals with energy loss from the windows. Old, single paned windows are inefficient and you’ll be wasting hundreds of pounds every year on fuel bills. But A-rated double glazed units will lock heat in your home, meaning you won’t have to turn up the heating to keep you warm.
New boilers are also key to reducing your energy bills, as they’ll burn fuel more efficiently. Investing in a new boiler can reduce your energy bills by as much as £300 every year. And by having a regular boiler service, you can ensure your boiler remains in optimum condition and works efficiently.
Monitor your energy usage
There are gadgets available that help you to monitor how much energy you’re using at any one time. By doing this, you’ll be able to see your energy consumption when lights and other electrical products are left on unnecessarily.
With a monitor, it’s been reported that you’ll save at least 5% on your energy bills every year.
Compare your energy supplier
A lot of people stay loyal to their energy supplier for years and are too lazy to consider switching. But this is proved to save a lot of people money on their energy bills and all you have to do is pick up the phone.
Don’t leave products on standby
It’s all too easy to leave a product on standby and not switch it off at the mains. But this is only wasting your energy and money. A BBC report said 800,000 tonnes of carbon are wasted every year from homeowners leaving appliances on standby.
And the Energy Saving Trust believes £1 billion of energy is wasted around the UK by getting into this habit. If you want to save money, switch off all your appliances after use.