The increase in energy prices has been steep, and one of the things that most households are still in the process of doing is figuring out the best ways to reduce their energy costs. There are a lot of benefits to reducing the amount of energy we use, but the biggest one is the amount of money we can save.
Running a household that is more efficient is something that many people also aim for.
Here are some top tips for reducing your energy costs.
Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash
Insulation
You might be surprised at how much heat we lose in the winter because our insulation isn’t enough. A thin layer isn’t usually enough to stop the heat from seeping out.
Where possible, have a look at grants and funds to help with an extra layer of insulation. If having a lot of insulation isn’t in the budget, then see about insulation on pipes, water tanks, and radiators.
Dishwasher
It might not be the biggest saving, but if you aren’t using your dishwasher efficiently and fully, you are wasting a lot of money. It might not sound like a lot, but $20 dollars a year can be saved and put towards something else.
When you fill the dishwasher correctly, you’ll be using it less often and reduce your total water usage. Not to mention you don’t need to load it and unload it so often!
Shower
For those who can’t go a day without a bath, this one can be a tough swap to make. And it only really works if you don’t spend a long time standing under the running water. But switching from a bath full of water to a 5-minute shower can make a huge difference.
The trick to making everything work in 5 minutes or less is things like turning the water off while you are lathering or putting your hair mask in.
Over time you will start to race yourself to make sure you get your routine down in the least amount of time possible.
Lights
Your parents or guardians were right! Leaving lights on is a huge waste of money – and while it might not seem like a lot, it actually is when combined with other energy costs.
Turning the lights off is one way to reduce costs, and the other is by changing your light bulbs to LED bulbs. They cost less to run, so if you do happen to forget about turning the lights off, it won’t cost you as much.
Windows and Doors
New buildings tend to have better energy efficiency, and one of the places that they concentrate their efforts on is the windows and doors. If your home is older, then looking into the benefits of aluminum windows for energy-efficient homes is a great start.
Any draughts on the windows and doors might not be obvious at first, so you should take some time to inspect them carefully.
An old trick to find draughts is putting talc or salt on along the edges of the window and looking for anywhere that it looks to be blown away.
Typically the corners are the culprits, but gaps can appear anywhere.
Doors are a nightmare for letting heat escape and cold seep in from the bottom. If a replacement isn’t in your budget, then invest in the best draught excluder that you can get hold of. And, failing that, roll a thick towel or blanket up and place it along the bottom of the door.
Comparison
When was the last time that you compared your energy prices? If the answer is that you can’t remember – that might be a problem! Find all of the information about tariffs and contracts and start using comparison websites.
The tariff you are on might not be the cheapest, but it might be the most reliable – so there is more than price to take into consideration.
Once you have an idea of some of the other available options, see what you can do about reducing your costs, switching plans, or going with a new provider completely.
No More Standby
One of the biggest savings can be made when you stop leaving things on standby. Anything that doesn’t need to be on all the time, like the fridge and the freezer, can be turned off. Alternatively, to make light work of this, you can get a smart plug that will turn things off automatically, so you don’t even have to think about it.
Keep in mind that if you have a TV box that records programs for you, you might want to leave this one plugged in.
If you are invested in reducing your energy, then here are a few more tips for you: 3 Ways To Make Big Savings On Household Energy Use.