With warmer weather across the UK and the summer holiday season approaching, it's a great time of year to take advantage of the sunnier months and save some energy. We've pulled together our top 5 tips on how to reduce your energy consumption and your energy bill whether you are staying at home or are heading away.
Make the most of the sunshine
Rather than using a tumble dryer, dry your clothes on the washing line, the old-fashioned way. If you stopped using tumble dryer altogether, you would save around £70 a year.
Heating and hot water
If you are away on holiday, why not completely switch off the hot water system to save energy. And if you are at staying at home, why not turn down the water temperature and adjust the timer
With household heating and hot water accounting for more than 50% of a customer's energy bill, it makes sense to economise where you can. For example, by turning down your room thermostat by just one degree, you'll cut as much as 10% off your heating bill, saving around £90 a year.
Manage your fridge
According to the Energy Savings Trust, a fridge costs as much as 7% of your energy bill, around £60 per year. Fridges run much more efficiently when they aren’t empty, so if it’s more than 50% empty, fill some of the space with jugs of water. But don’t overfill, as the fridge does need some space and air for it to run at an optimum level.
And check the fridge temperature. Refrigerators and freezers set just a few degrees lower can cut down on energy use by as much as 25%. The ideal temperature for a fridge is between 3 and 5 degrees. Freezers should be set at -18 degrees
Switch off the standby button
TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs, mobile phone chargers, games consoles, stereos and PCs use small amounts of electricity when they are plugged in but not switched on. Whilst the standby energy consumed is small, the overall energy consumption does add up. Switch-off the stand-by, reduce your energy consumption and save between £50 and £80 a year.
Use a timer for your lights
Many holidaymakers decide to leave the lights on whilst they are away to scare off intruders. A better way that will reduce your energy use, is to buy a timer switch. These plug straight into the wall, cost as little as £5 and many allow you to programme in several time slots. At the same time, use energy-saving lightbulbs that save up to 20% on lighting costs.
Doug Stewart of GEUK said: "Look I accept that some people might say I’m stating the bleedin' obvious, but many of us talk the talk but don't follow through. Little things like this make a difference – reduce waste, reduce your consumption, and reduce your energy bills, what’s not to like? And we are doing our little bit for the planet as well."