Energy Efficiency Tips
Below are some handy hints for saving energy, saving water and reducing waste. Not only are they easy to do, they can save you money and help the environment too.
Energy
Energy used in our homes is responsible for over a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK and is a major cause of climate change. Making your home more energy efficient will reduce carbon emissions and reduce bills.
- Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could save you up 10% off your heating bill.
- Close your curtains at night to stop heat escaping through windows. If you have radiators under your windows, tuck curtains behind the radiators to keep heat in the room.
- If you use your washing machine on 30°C wash rather than 40°C it will use less energy and save you money.
- Use a full load in your washing machine when possible. A half-load setting usually uses more than half the energy of a full load setting.
- Switch lights off when you leave a room.
- Use energy efficient light bulbs. They produce less carbon dioxide, can last up to 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs and can save up to £60 in electricity.
- Switching appliances off completely, rather than leaving them on standby, can save the average household £30 a year.
Water
Although we tend to think that the UK should have lots of water available, we use 70% more water today than we did 40 years ago and our demand increases each year. These water-saving tips can help reduce water shortages and our effect on the environment.
- Make sure taps are turned off properly. A dripping hot water tap wastes enough hot water in one week to fill half a bath.
- Only boil as much water as you need when using a kettle, but make sure you use enough water to cover the elements.
- When cooking, put lids on saucepans and only use enough water to cover the food.
- Taking a shower instead of a bath reduces both the amount of water used and the energy needed to heat up the water.
- A running tap wastes over 6 litres of water a minute so turn off the tap whilst brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Use water in a bowl to wash vegetables rather than under a running tap.
- As long as it isn't too soapy, use leftover water from your washing up on garden or house plants.
Waste
All of us can have a huge impact on reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill:
- If possible, place a recycling container next to your bin – then it’s as easy to recycle as it is to throw away.
- About a third of the food we buy gets thrown away. Freeze food you won’t eat in the next few days or try different recipes to use up leftovers.
- Reduce paper bills by using secure online billing where possible
- Get rid of junk mail by registering for free with the Mail Preference Service which will remove your name from direct mail lists.
- Reuse plastic carrier bags or switch to cloth or canvas shopping bags. Most plastic carrier bags are used for less than 20 minutes, but take a thousand years to disintegrate.
- If you have a garden, consider having a compost bin as over 30% of an average household bin can be composted. This helps prevent methane, a green house gas, from being produced in landfill and provides a ready source of compost for your garden.