Essential Guide: Ways to reduce your energy bills
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantWe all want to save money, right? For some
it’s to afford those little luxuries in life, while for others it’s a necessity
to get by. Worryingly, surveys
show that six million Brits fear they’ll never get rid of their debt and a
quarter are struggling to make ends meet each month.
However, there are several ways you can
relieve the pressure caused by household bills. Here, we look at the best
options to reduce your energy bills:
Replace light bulbs
A very simple and cost-effective way to
shave a little bit from your energy bills would be to change your lightbulbs.
Did you know an LED light bulb only costs approximately £1.71 to run each year?
That means that, compared to traditional bulbs, you could save up to £180 from
your energy bills during the bulb’s lifespan.
Even if you have already switched, just
remembering to turn your lights off when you aren’t in the room or don’t need
them on will keep a surprising number of pennies in your bank instead of your
energy supplier’s.
Energy monitor
This handheld or table-top gadget can
provide you with key information about just how much energy you are using each
day. While this device won’t technically save you money, it gives you the
opportunity to keep an eye on your expenditure.
Don’t get smart meters mixed up with energy
monitors confused, though. While energy monitors help you to understand your
electricity usage, smart meters send this information to your energy provider.
No More Standby
You may think it won’t make a difference,
turning off all your gadgets by the plug can save on average £30 per year. This
is based on the average home with four occupants now using 13 electronic appliances.
For homes with more gadgets, the savings each year can reach £80.
Monitor your laundry
Some people think stuffing their washing
machine will cut back on the number of loads required, however, this can be
detrimental to your energy usage if you over fill. Be sure to wash your clothes
at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees and you could save up to £52 a year. Also, many utility companies have plans set
up to give you discounts for switching your power usage to off-peak times, so
it’s certainly worth checking if this affects you.
Double glazing
All properties will lose heat through their
windows, but double glazing can limit
this considerably, providing great thermal insulation. It’s impossible to put a
figure on exactly how much it can save you but depending on your type of home
of energy provider, you could shave hundreds of pounds off your annual energy
bills.
It’s also important to remember that, while
the initial cost may be high, double glazing will increase the overall value of
your property.
Cavity wall insulation
It’s worth looking into wall insulation if
your house was built before the 1990s. The colder it is outside, the quick heat
leaves your property if your walls aren’t insulated, meaning that you will need
to keep your heating on longer for it to be effective. While it can be an
expensive form of insulation, some people qualify to receive it for free.
Benefit entitlement
Dependent on your age and circumstances,
you may be entitled to receive fuel benefits. For those over 61, you will
receive an annual tax-free benefit, but many don’t know about a ‘cold weather
payment’ that is available. This is paid in the event of exceptionally cold
weather – if it drops below zero degrees Celsius for seven days in a row. While
they are often automatically provided, you may still need to apply.
Go solar
This renewable energy can reduce your
electricity bills considerably but are certainly not a short-term fix. While
they could require an expensive outlay, you can save in the long run – and save
more the further south you live.
It’s certainly clear that being more
conscious of your usage can help keep save money, as can making aesthetic
changes to your property. Follow these steps and you’ll have a better chance of
spending that money on yourself rather than your energy bills.
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Created on Feb 11th 2020 04:13. Viewed 341 times.