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25/03/22
Home Improvement

Top Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home

According to data published by Ofgem, an energy market regulator, the average household spends £1,138 per year on their energy bills, making energy costs one of the biggest expenses for UK households. *

The energy price cap is set to increase from the 1st of April 2022, for approximately 33 million customers. This dramatic price increase has been driven by a record rise in global gas prices over the last 6 months, which will affect customers on default tariffs who haven’t converted to a fixed arrangement, and those who have stayed with their new supplier after their previous supplier left the market. **

Many homeowners and tenants may be worried about the increase in energy prices, so we’ve compiled a useful list of top tips to help understand your energy bill and tips to save energy.

How Much Energy Does the Average Household Use?

First and foremost, a kWh is a unit of measurement used by energy suppliers to determine how much energy you’ve consumed and calculate your bills. For example, 1 kWh might be used to boil a kettle 10 times or watch TV for 7 hours.

Every appliance in your home consumes energy, but some use more than others. Knowing how many kWh each one uses allows you to better check your usage, be more energy-efficient, and save money.

Due to the increased availability of energy-efficient products, electricity consumption in the UK has decreased in recent years. Smaller houses, improved insulation, and milder winters are all factors that help. The average household consumes 3,731 kWh per year, according to the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). ***

How Can You Save Energy?

We have compiled a list of useful tips and tactics to help you save gas and electricity at home. We have used figures and information from the Energy Saving Trust to show you how much you could save with these useful tips. ****

1. Turn Off Any Appliances That Are on Standby

To save an average of £30 a year, turn off any appliances at the plug. To ensure that your sockets are switched off, utilise cheap timer plugs that allow you to schedule the turning off of the appliance.

2. Install a Smart Thermostat

Buying a smart thermostat can help you save money on heating by warming only the rooms you are using. They’ll work out how long it takes to heat your house so you can have it at the right temperature when you need it. You could save roughly £75 per year if you installed a smart thermostat.

3. Turn Down the Thermostat

Heating and water prices absorb over half of the money spent on energy bills. By lowering your thermostat by only one degree, you could save up to £80 every year. This will cut your energy bills straight away, and you may not feel any difference.

4. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances

Throwing away a perfectly working appliance won’t save you money. However, when the time comes to replace it, choosing one with a high energy-efficiency rating can be worthwhile.

Over the course of 11 years, an A+++ washer will consume £65 less energy than an A+. When compared to an older machine, a modern, efficient dishwasher could normally cost roughly £7 less per year to run. Making these energy-efficient choices when buying appliances can be very cost-saving in the long run.

5. Wash Your Clothes at a Lower Temperature

Washing your clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees can help you save energy, and if you can cut out at least one wash a week, you can save £5 on your annual energy bill.

These minor modifications in your laundry habits, particularly the use of lower temperatures, can result in significant savings and are great for the environment, reducing CO2 emissions. So, why not make these small changes to the way you wash?

6. Conserve your water usage

By being more knowledgeable about how much water you use, you can effectively save roughly £25 per year. You can wash your dishes in a bowl rather than with running water to save on water usage.

Also, investing in a more energy-efficient shower head can save you up to £18 per person a year on energy bills. Plus, adding a water meter will increase your annual savings.

By shaving, just one minute off each shower, using a shower timer can save you £7 per person every year.

7. Monitor Your Usage

Keeping a close eye on your energy consumption will help you determine if and when you need to make changes to how you use energy.

Installing a Smart Meter allows you to keep track of your consumption in real time. They communicate directly with your energy supplies, which means that no one will need to come and read your meter.

Looking for a new property this spring? Book a valuation with one of our expert local agents to find out how much your home could be worth.

*According to data published by Ofgem

** According to a 2022 Press Release Published by Ofgem

*** According to information from the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.

**** According to data from the Energy Saving Trust

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