We all hate paying massive utility bills, so we've put together a list of top tips to help you save on both your gas and electricity, with some of them saving you as much as 30% on your annual bill.
Turn
the thermostat down
For every degree above 21°C that you set
your thermostat, you pay an extra 10% on your bills, so by turning it down by
one degree you save as much as £50 on the average bill.
Insulate
properly
The summer is a great time to do odd jobs
around the house, so if you haven’t already, insulate your loft now, plus you
can buy insulation a little cheaper in the summer months too.
By doing so, you can save up to 30% on your
energy bill.
Also the walls of your property are
responsible for around one third of heat loss so cut your bills by getting
cavity wall insulation.
For an average home, these cost between
£100 and £350 but it can save the average family £135 a year on their bills.
Which means you can save a total of £230 by doing both.
Stop
those drafts
Did you know that about 20% of heat loss in
the home is down to poor ventilation and drafts, so make sure windows and doors
are sealed properly.
Fully draught-proofing your house will
reduce heating bills by £355 a year on average, according to the Energy Savings
Trust.
Buy
energy efficient products
This is a great way to save money,
technology now means there are many more energy efficient things to buy when it
comes to replacing old expensive items around the home, look out for the
‘Energy Saving Recommended’ label.
This shows how energy efficient and
cost-effective an appliance is to run. Only products that meet strict criteria
on energy efficiency can carry the label.
For example, fridge freezers with the
certified label use 60% less energy than those without, while laptops use 85% -
a saving of £50 a year.
Replace
those bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs use up to 80%
less electricity and can last up 10 times longer than a standard bulb, they
cost a little more, but you can save around £65.00 over the life of the bulb,
check with your energy company too as they often give them away free online.
