From charging laptops to boiling the kettle, the energy we use at home can quickly add up. The good news is there are lots of little things you can do to save money and help the environment at the same time.
Here are our top tips:
Try to avoid working longer hours
If you’re working from home, any extra hours you spend at your laptop will affect your electricity bill. Try to fit your work into regular hours, and include at least an hour’s screen break to help you focus so you can finish on time. Not only will this save energy, it’ll free up more time for yourself.
Work in natural daylight
If you have space, work in the brightest room in your home and let all the natural light in. This will help reduce the electricity needed to power desk lamps, and it can be a great mood booster. Healthline shares some benefits of natural light.
Unplug any electricals you’re not using
This includes anything that’s left on standby, as this still uses up energy. Money.co.uk explains hows much energy is used when leaving certain household appliances on standby.
It's also worth plugging into an energy-saving power strip that controls the energy going to each device. For example, it would let you use your computer while cutting the standby power going to your printer.
Turn your heating down
It’s important to keep warm when it’s chilly, but as the temperature goes up outside, turn your heating down and only heat the rooms you’re using. And don't forget, if your hot water is too warm, turn down your thermostat to save energy.
Bleed radiators
Let the air out of your radiators to make sure they’re working properly. Just make sure you put an old towel underneath to soak up any water.
Invest in insulation
Heat can escape through a poorly insulated roof, and through smaller gaps such as letterboxes and windows. Less energy is needed to heat a well-insulated home, so look into getting some loft insulation and draught excluders.
Do full loads of washing
Save water and electricity by only doing washing when you have a full load of clothes. Keeping the temperature at 30 degrees will also help reduce your energy usage. The Energy Saving Trust offers more tips on how to save energy when using your washing machine.
Look after your lightbulbs
Using certain types of lightbulbs will help you reduce your energy output and choose more sustainable options. SSE have plenty of tips. And, cleaning your bulbs will make a huge difference to light output, meaning you'll get brighter rooms without the extra spend. If you’re not using your lights, remember to turn them off.
Get shower smart and save water
Try keeping your showers to five minutes, or use a water-saving timer that tells you when you’ve used 35 litres of water. You can also switch to an eco setting if your shower has one.
And don’t forget to fix any dripping shower heads, as this can help you avoid wasting water in the long run.
