Our members tell us that Look After My Bills gives them peace of mind knowing they’re saving money on their energy year on year.
Nonetheless, some nifty tips for saving extra energy during winter can never go amiss.
We’re not talking the cop-out ‘put another jumper on’ solutions, or splashing the cash on expensive changes like loft insulation.
We’ve put together some handy tips which will give you a toastier home and won’t leave you out of pocket:
1. Take advantage of natural light
Open your curtains to your south-facing windows to soak up the sunlight during the day and let it naturally warm up your home. Just make sure to close them at night to stop any chill from the cold windows.
2. Get your cook on!
Your cooker is one of the most energy-guzzling appliances in your house. Get ahead and try cooking multiple meals at once – it’ll save you the hassle later on in the week and save you energy!
3. Strong and stable heating
Much as it might be tempting to whack your heating on full blast when you’re freezing your toes off, keeping your thermostat at the same low temperature rather than on – off – on – off can save you energy. That’s because the boiler uses a lot of energy getting from cold to hot.
This video sums up the big boiler debate pretty well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4_6e5IaQXM.
4. Keep stocked up
Having a full-to-the-brim fridge can save you energy as an emptier fridge will use more energy to keep the food cool. If food is stuffed in it’ll keep cooler and use less energy. Great excuse to get the Christmas treats in!
Oh and by the way, the ideal temperature for fridge is around 5°C.
5. Time for some (radiator) Feng Shui
Having a sofa or a bed blocking a radiator is a prime suspect for stopping the room heating up. It gets absorbed by the item of furniture rather than warming you up! Shift it out the way so that you’re the one who feels the benefits.
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6. DIY draught proofing
Adding a doormat to your home will not only add a cosy touch but also serves a more practical purpose; stopping the chill coming in through the front door.
Putting up with those pesky little gaps letting in cool air will really make a difference to retaining warmth. For windows, try sticking draught proofing strips (or excluders to use the fancy term) around the frame. You can get them fairly cheaply here.
7. Lord of the rings
Be extra savvy when you’re cooking on the hob. Using the biggest ring to heat up a small saucepan is a big, big waste of energy, as is putting a huge wok on the smallest ring.
8. Be on standby for standby
Did you know that a lot of electrical appliances continue using energy even when you’re not using them?!
Televisions, chargers, broadband routers, stereos, hair dryers, game boxes (such as xboxes) are all extra power-hungry appliances. Also don’t leave your mobile phone on charge all night! Chances are it won’t need that long. You could save an extra £30 a year just from switching these off at the wall.
9. Opt for energy saving bulbs
Switching your bulbs for energy saving ones is a great way to limit your usage. They use 75% less energy than normal bulbs and you can save up to £80 per bulb you change!
10. Tumble dryer tactics
If you have your heating on, try to avoid the temptation to ramp up the tumble dryer as well.
Make the most of your heating and bring out the drying rack – just don’t dry clothes directly on the radiator, otherwise your boiler will be forced to work harder and use more energy.
But the most simple way to save money is to switch energy supplier annually… our service does this for you! Automatically. So you’ll know you’re always paying the best prices for your energy.
