Home Energy Saving Ideas, Tips and Advice
Electrical Equipment
Tips and advice on saving electricity and energy around the Home
- Turn of all your electrical appliances when they’re not in use, like your TV, DVD/video players and computer game consoles. Standby modes use almost the same amount of electricity as when the appliance is turned on, so switch it of at the plug. You can buy single switch-off points that all your appliances plug into, giving you just a single switch to turn off.
- Don’t leave mobile phone and laptop chargers plugged in when they’re not in use. Chargers use almost the same amount of energy as normal when they are plugged in but not in use. Use your laptop battery when it is charged, this saves energy and increases the life of your battery.
- When replacing old electrical equipment look for the energy saving symbols.
- Replace your current bulbs with energy saving bulbs. They last about 10 times as long and are 80% more efficient than standard bulbs. Not only does this reduce the energy used but it also means you’re creating less rubbish.
- Install an electricity usage monitor (like the Owl Wireless Electricity Meter) to monitor your electricity use. This will help you see if the changes you are making are having an effect on your electricity usage and will encourage you to continue.
- Turn down temperature on your washing machine to 30°C and use the quick wash/economy feature. Modern washing powders work as effectively at lower temperatures and this saves a huge amount of energy. Try not to do a wash for just a few items of clothing, only do washing when you’ve got a full load to do. This also applies to dishwashers, modern washing products are effective at low temperatures.
- Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need to use when making hot drinks, a full kettle takes much more power to boil than a half-full kettle.
- Lime scale build-up in hard water areas lowers the heating efficiency of a kettle, soak the element in vinegar when it gets furry to keep it clear and efficient.
- Don’t tumble dry your clothing if at all possible, dry clothing outside or clothes rails instead, opening a window just a little to allow the moisture to escape.
- Defrosting your fridge and freezer regularly will help keep them efficient. If you find that your freezer frosts up quickly then there may be a leak in the door seal, replace the seal to be sure as it takes more energy to cool a fridge that has an air leak. Avoid putting your fridge and freezer next to an oven, it’ll just need more power to cool!
- Cover pots and pans when you’re cooking, the water will boil quicker so you can save energy and eat earlier!
- Don’t put hot food in the fridge or freezer. The appliance has to work harder to cool the food and it is unhygienic (it can encourage a build up of bacteria on the food).
- Try to use microwaves and steamers to cook where possible, they use a lot less energy than ovens and gas hobs.
