Reducing energy consumption and eventually saving money on bills can be done through everyday actions and to help consumers do just that, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has produced 10 top tips.
1. Turning appliances off standby mode can save £30 a year so remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
2. Replacing old light bulbs with energy efficient LEDs – while it could cost around £100 initially, consumers could save about £35 a year on bills.
3. Turning lights off when not needed. If a light is switched off for just a few seconds, more energy is saved than it takes for the light to start up again – this could help save around £14 a year on annual energy bills.
4. Turning down the thermostat by one degree, around 10% can be saved on energy bills. However, homes should be warm enough during the cold weather as cold homes can have a detriment to health.
5. Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves and using these controls efficiently could save around £75 a year.
6. Closing curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and checking for draughts around windows and doors.
7. Draught-proofing of windows and doors and blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards can save around £20 a year on energy bills.
Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom said: “You’d be surprised at what small steps can make a big difference – both to energy bills and to your contribution to climate change.
Source (Energy Live News, January 2020).
