Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

- Air Conditioning -
Turn down the thermostat. Turning down your thermostat by 1°C can reduce your heating bills by up to 10%.

- Lighting -
Always turn off lights when you leave a room. Use energy efficient light bulbs. These can be up to 80% more efficient than standard light bulbs for the same amount of illumination. They can also last up to 12 times longer than standard bulbs. Placing lamps in the corners of your room will reflect more light so you will need less lamps.

- Appliances -
Don't leave appliances on stand-by. Leaving items on standby uses 85% of the total power. Also remember not to charge up appliances for longer than necessary

- Washer / Dryer / Dishwashers -
Use the half-load or economy programmer. If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher to full capacity, don’t forget to use the half-load programmer. Clean at low temperatures. Dishwashers and washing machines that heat their own water should be kept to low temperature settings. All modern detergents are designed to clean successfully at 40°C and some at 30°C. Only boil as much water as you need. Kettles use a lot of power so only boil as much as water as you really need. Also make sure the elements in your kettle are clean and free of lime scale. And while you are at it, check the elements of your washing machine too – white vinegar works a treat on removing limescale. Don't tumble dry - Whenever and wherever possible hang your clothes out to dry.


- Invest in ‘A’ or ‘A+’ rated appliances -
An old fridge freezer may cost you two and a half times more to power than a modern ‘A’ rated one. Also when buying a computer chose a laptop over a desktop as they use far less electricity to operate. You’ll also save space

- Insulate -
Insulating your house offers lots of opportunities to reduce your consumption. 50% of the total heat lost from our homes comes as a direct result of poor insulation, 25% goes through our roofs and a further 33% is lost through our walls. If building a new home or retro fitting your existing home, invest heavily in good insulation. Also go for the most energy efficient windows that are within your budget. Insulating your hot water tank can reduce costs, paying for itself after one year.