Top Energy Saving Tips

Using less energy is a great way to protect the environment, but it can also reduce your expenses too. When you use less energy at home, your gas, electricity, and fuel bills should decrease accordingly. To start living more sustainably, take a look at these top energy saving tips now:

3 Energy saving tips for electric fan users

An electric fan is a simple and stress-free way to keep a room well-ventilated, but it can use up a significant amount of energy. To use an electric fan without racking up high electricity bills, take a look at these three energy-saving tips:

1. Clean the fan blades regularly to ensure optimal cooling. This means the fan won’t have to work as hard and will, therefore, use less electricity.
2. Put oil in the motors in accordance with the manufacturer’s advice. This can increase the lifespan of the unit and prevent excess energy consumption.
3. Use the right size fan. If you only need to cool a small room, don’t choose a large floor-standing fan, as you’ll use more energy than you need. By choosing the right size electric fan for the space, you can minimise energy consumption.

If you’re using an electric fan to cool or ventilate a large room, consider installing a ceiling fan instead. These can be more effective at cooling large spaces and will, therefore, reduce the amount of energy you’re using. Alternatively, choose an electric fan with a good energy-efficiency rating to avoid using excess amounts of electricity.

Best energy saving tips for the home

Whether you own a property or you’re renting from a landlord, you can cut the cost of your utility bills with these energy-saving tips for the home:

1. Turn electrical items off when they’re not in use, instead of leaving them on standby
2. Remember to turn the lights off when you leave a room
3. Unplug devices, like phones and tablets, as soon as they’re charged
4. Fill a basin with water, rather than running the tap, when washing up to reduce the amount of water you use
5. Spend two minutes less in the shower than you usually do and you could save a substantial amount on your utility bills

More energy saving tips

There are endless ways you can save energy, including:

1. Only using the dishwasher when it’s full, instead of running it with half a load inside
2. Reduce the water flow to radiators in rooms that aren’t used regularly or switch the radiators off for some of the week (if you decide to turn radiators off for long periods of time, ensure the room doesn’t get damp and check the radiator is functional on a regular basis to prevent air locks or rusting)
3. Leave internal doors open to allow heat to circulate throughout the property
4. Use a ground source or air heat pump to heat your home
5. Add an insulation jacket to hot water cylinders. This will keep the water hot, without needing to keep the system on for as long
6. Install a letterbox cover to prevent unnecessary draughts and heat loss
7. Batch cooking can be a great way to adopt healthy eating habits, but it can also help you to use less energy. When you prepare multiple meals at once, you don’t need to use the cooker or oven for as long each day. This reduces the amount of electricity or gas you use throughout the week.

Energy saving tips for households

Whether you live alone, with a partner, kids, flatmate or extended family, you’ll want to do everything you can to make your household more sustainable. To get started, take a look at these energy-saving tips for households:

1. Cavity wall insulation can be a good option for homes built after 1930, as these properties typically have non-solid walls, with a space between the internal siding and the exterior masonry
2. For properties built before 1930, external wall insulation can enhance the properties of the exterior walls and make your home more energy-efficient
3. When cooking, avoid using an excessively large pan. This will result in your using more heat, and fuel, than you need to
4. Compare utility providers to ensure you’re getting the best rate. In many cases, your existing utility company will be able to offer a better deal if you get in touch with them
5. Upgrading your double-glazing or switching to triple-glazing can minimise heat loss and reduce the amount of time you need to have the heating on, saving you money and cutting your energy consumption

Energy saving tips for a refrigerator

Upgrading your refrigerator to a more energy-efficient model is a good way to reduce your energy usage but there are other steps you can take too, such as:

1. Keep the surrounding areas free from clutter to prevent the refrigerator from overheating
2. Adjust the internal temperature according to how full the fridge is
3. Don’t leave the fridge door open for extended periods of time
4. Use refrigerator-safe glass containers to store food, as they retain the cold more effectively
5. Replace the door seals regularly to avoid deterioration and subsequent overwork

Energy saving tips for small businesses

If you run your own business, reducing your energy usage will minimise your running costs and boost your profits. Here’s how to do it:

1. Use motion-activated lighting in workspaces to prevent lights being left on
2. Switch computers and electrical devices off when they’re not in use
3. Use fans, instead of air conditioning, to keep workspaces cool and well-ventilated
4. Reduce paper usage and limit printing to essential documents only
5. Keep equipment well-maintained and carry out repairs swiftly

Gas energy saving tips

If you have gas power running to your property, you can reduce the amount of energy you’re using by:

1. Turning the thermostat down by 1° or 2°C
2. Avoiding drying clothes on radiators
3. Move furniture away from radiators to stop it absorbing the heat
4. Install reflector panels on radiators that are situated against external walls to minimise heat loss
5. Have your boiler serviced regularly to ensure optimal performance

Home energy saving tips

No matter what type of fuel you’re using, these home energy saving tips can make your household more environmentally friendly and reduce the amount of energy you consume:

1. Install thermostatic radiator valves on every radiator
2. Set heating and hot water timers to prevent overuse
3. Use a flexible filler to prevent draughts caused by gaps in the floorboards or skirting boards, while still allowing them to move as needed
4. If you only need to heat one room, use an electric heater, rather than heating the whole house

Laundry energy saving tips

Washing and drying clothes can use a lot of power, but you can save energy by:

1. Air drying clothes outside or using a clothes horse inside, instead of using a tumble dryer
2. Washing clothes on a short laundry cycle
3. Clean filters on washing machines and tumble dryers
4. Wash clothes at 30°C, instead of on a higher heat
5. Use an extra spin cycle on your washer before putting clothes in the tumble dryer

Top ten energy saving tips for thrifty households

1. Use Smart heating controls
2. Fit energy-saving light bulbs
3. If your electricity tariff offers reduced costs during off-peak hours, delay using electrical items, like washing machines, dishwashers and charges, until these times
4. Install low-flow taps, showerheads and toilets to drastically reduce the amount of water you use
5. Upgrade insulation to ensure your property retains as much heat as possible. This allows you to reduce the temperature on your thermostat and use the heating system less, thus minimising energy consumption and cutting your bills
6. Use a Smart meter to monitor your energy consumption and track usage. When you know exactly how much energy you’re using, it’s easy to make changes and reduce your utility costs
7. Install solar panels on the roof of your property. These will enable you to access low-cost, renewable energy and could mean that you won’t need to use mains electricity or gas at all
8. Fit thermal lining to curtains and blinds to prevent heat loss
9. Switch to a renewable energy tariff
10. Use laptop computers, instead of desktops, as these use substantially less power

Winter home energy saving tips

Most people use more fuel during the winter months, but you can cut your energy usage with these top tips:

1. Use weatherstrips to prevent draughts near windows and doors
2. Add thermal coatings to your windows. These won’t affect your view, but they will help to retain more heat and reduce your reliance on your heating system
3. Insulate pipes to keep water hotter for longer
4. Fit radiator boosters to maximise the heat produced
5. Switch to thicker blinds and curtains to minimise heat loss

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to reduce your energy consumption, both at home and at work. By doing so, you can protect the environment, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy lower energy bills.