Helping to Maximise your Profits

The wastage from many household appliances is mounting all of the time. But, by changing a few of your habits great reductions can be made and so reduce costs. This change can be carried out without a great lifestyle change.

Below are a few things that can be done:

Heating and Hot Water

• Turn the thermostat down to between 18 to 20C. If this is done 1 deree at a time you will get used to it easier.
• Ensure that the water and heating is only programmed to activate when it is really needed. Reduction of the time they are switched on also helps.
• Reduce the temperature of the hot water setting to 60C (not less as this can lead to legionella).
• Use the shower instead of the bath.
• Turn off all taps correctly and repair if required.
• When dusk arrives draw your curtains or blinds, to reduce heat loss through the glass of your windows.
• If required after turning down the overall temperature wear extra clothing to watch TV.
• When cooking use saucepan lids.
• Use a steamer when cooking to save on the number of rings used.
• An electric toaster is better at saving energy that using your electric grill.
  

Electrical Appliances

• When leaving a room turmn off the light.
• Do not leave appliances on Stand-By, when not being used turn off at the plug socket.
• Do not leave such things as phone chargers on when not required.
• Wait to do your washing until you have a full load. Reduce the washing temperature to between 30 and 40C
• Weather permiting hang clothes outside to dry instead of using a tumble drier.
• Only iron clothes that are essentials - if clothes are hung outside, they actually need less ironing.
• When using a kettle only boil the amount of water needed.
• Freezers and refrigerators should be de-frosted on a regular basis.
• Site your freezer and regfrierator away from sources of heat, a garage is ideal.
• If cooking food to save for later, let it cool before putting in the fridge.
• Do not use a microwave to defrost food, let it thaw naturally.

For every 1W device that you leave permanently on or on standby, costs you around 80p per year. Some common examples are:

TV	4W
Freeview box	3W
DVD or video player	115W
Computer with printer, etc	5W
Microwave with LED clock	4W
Phone charger	6W
Digital radio 2 - 20 W

If you permanently left all this on, you’d waste around £120 / year and emit nearly half a ton of CO2.

Low cost measures

Even a small investment in new technology, can make a huge difference to your annual energy bills and subsequent carbon emissions.

Some examples are:

• Use energy saving light bulbs. They are now available to fit the majority of light fittings and over the bulbs lifetime savings of nearly £40 can be made.
• Ensure that your loft insulation is topped up to the reccommended level. Many people can take advantage of free grants for loft insulation.
• If possible have cavity wall insulation, again grants are available that could be used so enabling it to be free, depending on your circumstances.
• Ensure that your gas boiler is serviced once a year.
• If you have a hot water cylinder make sure that its jacket is of the reccommended thickness, at least 80-160mm of insulation.
• Draft proof doors and any single glazed windows also check that seals on your double glazing are still effective.
  

Medium cost measures include the following:

• If any appliances are getting old think about replacing them. All modern appliances are rated for efficiency try to get those that are A-- rated, these appliances are likely to pay for themselves within 4 years.
• Upgrade your heating system so that thrmostats are used on:
  radiator valves
  hot water thermostat
  a room thermostat;
• Reductions of gas usage of upto 20% can be made by ensuring boilers are upgraded to condensing type with an A rating.
• Laptops use as much as 75% less electricity than desktop computers.

If you would like more details, please contact us for advice, or arrange a energy assessment.